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Title Page of the First Schwenkfelder Hymn-Book Printed in America.

AMERICANA GERMANICA

SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

AND

The Sources

OF THE

First Schwenkfelder Hymn-Book
Printed in America

Allen Anders Seipt, A.M., Ph.D.

Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Formerly Instructor in German, Ohio Wesleyan University

AMERICANA GERMANICA PRESS

PHILADELPHIA
1909

jTHE ' WYORK

PUBLi JBRARY

47(.r/00

jjipi . LENOX and
1U.CI-N P ..UNDATION&.

COPYRIGHTED BY ALLEN ANDERS SEIPT
1909

THESIS

PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA IN PARTIAL

FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR

OF PHILOSOPHY, I906

ALLEN ANDERS SEIPT

MY MOTHER
IN

GRATEFUL VENERATION

PREFACE.

This work is a contribution to a better knowledge of the
activity of the Schwenkf elders in the writing and compiling of
hymns, both in Europe and also in America. It is hoped that it
will help to rescue from obscurity some of the worthy pioneers
whose services in this field have long waited for acknowledg-
ment. To students of the life of the German settlers in America,
during the colonial period, it should prove a welcome side-light.

An altogether satisfactory explanation of both the character
and the quantity of the religious poetry written by the early
Schwenkfelders is furnished by Koch. It runs thus : "They
were wholly devoted to a deep susceptibility of the grace of God,
intent upon this, in order that they might the better in faith
apprehend the inner working of grace. With such spiritual sen-
sibility, and being perpetually the victims of oppression, they had
so much the greater occasion for communion with God and for
the pouring out of their hearts before Him in prayer and song.
Hence it was, that a distinct Schwenkfeldian type of religious
poetry developed, quite extensive and not to be undervalued in its
importance."

Public acknowledgment is due the following for having
rendered assistance during the preparation of this work: Marion
D. Learned, Ph. D., L. H. D., Professor of German at the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, for directing the author's research ; Prof.
D. B. Shumway, Ph. D., of the University of Pennsylvania; Hon.
S. W. Pennypacker, LL. D., Former Governor of Pennsylvania,
for the use of important sources; M. G. Brumbaugh, Ph. D., LL.
D., Superintendent of Schools, Philadelphia; Prof. Morris Jas-
trow, Jr., Ph. D. ; Dr. John W. Jordan, Librarian, and Mr.
Ernest Spofford, Assistant Librarian, of the Historical Society
of Pennsylvania; Mr. Thomas L. Montgomery, Librarian, Mr.
Norman D. Gray, Assistant Librarian, and Mr. Luther Kelker,
Archivist, of the State Library, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ; C. S.

(vii)

Vlll PREFACE

Thayer, Ph. D., Librarian of Hartford Theological Seminary,
Hartford, Connecticut; Mr. George Maurice Abbot, Librarian of
the Library Company of Philadelphia, and Mr. B. Samuel, of the
Ridgway Branch; Pres. Robert Ellis Thompson, D. D., Central
High School, Philadelphia; Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D. D., LL. D.,
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Rev.
C. D. Hartranft, D. D., Wolfenbiittel, Germany; Hon. C. Hey-
drick, Franklin, Pennsylvania; Howard Wiegner Kriebel, Lititz,
Pennsylvania; Rev. O. S. Kriebel, D. D., Pennsburg, Pennsyl-
vania; Rev. E. E. S. Johnson, Wolfenbuettel, Germany; Mrs.
Susanna Krauss Heebner, Worcester, Pennsylvania; Samuel A.
Anders, Professor of German, Temple University, Philadelphia ;
and Irene Schumo Seipt, of Philadelphia.

The Author.
Philadelphia, April 1909.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I. — Introduction 1 1

Chapter II. — Descriptive Bibliography 17

Chapter III. — The Schwenkfelder Hymn-Writers of the

1 6th and 17th Centuries 37

Chapter IV. — Hymns Used by the Schwenkfelders Before

1762 56

Chapter V. — Caspar Weiss: The Originator of the

Schwenkfelder Hymn-Book 61

Chapter VI. — George Weiss: Writer and Compiler of

Hymns 74

Chapter VII. — Balthaser Hoffmann, Christopher Hoff-
mann and Hans Christoph Huebner. . . 83

Chapter VIII. — Christopher Schultz and the Printed

Hymn-Book 96

Appendix. — Bibliography in

CHAPTER I.
Introduction.

Up to this time, the American field of Schwenkf elder hymn-
ology appears to have been permitted to lie unworked and even
uncleared ; so that the present investigation has demanded pioneer
effort. The explanation of this fact can readily be furnished.
Until recent years, the sources which have made the present treat-
ise possible were in the private possession of numerous individuals
and of households of the sect, and hence were, for the most part,
both inaccessible and unknown to the investigator. However,
patient searching has brought to light much material relating to
the production, transcribing, compiling and editing of hymns of
Schwenkfelder authorship — the activity of the Schwenkfelders in
the writing and collecting of hymns having extended from the
first half of the sixteenth to the second half of the nineteenth cen-
tury, a period of more than three hundred years. This material
consists chiefly of manuscript sources hitherto unpublished, and is
therefore of prime importance for a documentary account of the
hymnology of the sect. The most important of the historical
manuscripts exploited in the preparation of this work will be found
printed with the text — care having been exercised to permit no
deviation from the orthography employed by the chronicler.
These citations are in most cases given in English translation also.
The specimen hymns printed or reprinted are provided with foot-
notes explaining dialectal and obsolete forms. The illustrations
will be found to include photographic reproductions indicating
those manuscript compilations which served as sources for the
first hymn-book of the sect printed in America.

The few brief notices which have thus far appeared, of the
activity of the Schwenkfelders in the writing and compiling of
hymns, have not been overlooked. In 1882, there appeared in the
Reformed Quarterly Review an article entitled "Early German
Hymnology of Pennsylvania," which contains an account of the

(11)

12 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Schwenkf elder hymn-book of 1762. 1 In 1898, the Americana
Germanica published a treatise on the subject of German hymn-
ology in America, in which the writer confines his account of
Schwenkfelder hymn-writing to the following brief mention:2
"Other sects, such as the Schwenkfelders, who came to Pennsyl-
vania in 1734, may be passed over with the mere mention. The
hymn-book of the Schwenkfelders, known as the Ncu-cUigcrichtc-
tcs Gcsangbiich, left Saur's press in 1762; it contains no hymns
written in this country, but is interesting for its scholarly preface
and excellent arrangement."

In the course of the present work, however, it will be seen
that Schwenkfelder hymnology is entitled to more than mere men-
tion, and that the statement, "it contains no hymns written in this
country," is certainly without foundation. In 1904 appeared the
Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania, a historical study of the
Schwenkfelders since their exodus from Saxony.3 This contains
a partial list of the Schwenkfelder hymn-writers whose hymns
were admitted into the hymn-book printed in 1762. But all these
references to the hymn-book in question merely suggest that
Schwenkfelder hymnology holds a place in the hymnology of the
Fatherland.

The larger works on hymnology have also been consulted.
In Julian,4 but two Schwenkfelder hymn-writers receive mention.
They are Adam Reissner and Sebastian Franck. Even Daniel
Sudermann is not named. Koch5 distinguishes two schools of
Schwenkfelder hymn-writers, namely, that of the Reformation
period and a post-Reformation school. He treats a total of eight
authors. We have already observed, in our preface, that Koch

'The article was written by the Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D.D., LL.D. Since
reprinted. This account is quoted in our last chapter.

2 William A. Haussmann: German American Hymnology (1683-1800).
Americana Germanica, Vol. II, No. 3.

"Howard Wiegner Kriebel : The Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania: A
Historical Sketch. Lancaster, 1904.

•John Julian: A Dictionary of Hymnology. New York, 1892.

°Emil Koch: Gcsehichte des Kirchenlieds und Kirchengcsangs. Stutt-
gart 1866-1876.

INTRODUCTION I 3

recognizes a well-defined Schwenkfeldian type of hymn-writing
and cheerfully concedes to it a raison d'etre. But his account of
the Schwenkfelder hymn-writers terminates with 163 1, the year
of Sudermann's death. Wackernagel0 describes very fully the
Schwenkfelder hymns of the period which he treats, but he dis-
cusses only the writers up to Sudermann inclusive, and his ac-
count is not biographical. Schneider's monograph7 likewise closes
with an account of the hymns of Daniel Sudermann. Indeed,
both Wackernagel and Koch frankly acknowledge their indebted-
ness to Schneider for much of their information concerning the
early hymn-writers of the school of Schwenkfeld.

It will be seen thus, that none of these authorities approach-
es the period with which the present treatise is particularly con-
cerned. It is the purpose of this monograph ( 1 ) to present a
survey of the entire field of Schwenkfelder hymnology, and (2)
to submit the results of an examination of certain compilations of
hymns extant in manuscript. The collections in question are
those brought to America by the Schwenkf elders in 1734, to-
gether with the rearrangements and transcriptions of them produc-
ed here. Documentary sources have been employed almost exclu-
sively, and with but one exception, the writer has enjoyed the use
of the originals of the several hymn-collections examined. The
hymn-book issued from the press of Christopher Saur has, of
course, received attention ; but no minute analysis of this imprint
has been attempted. It will frequently be referred to as the "Saur
edition." The second and third editions of the printed hymnal
are merely listed in our Descriptive Bibliography. Each is es-
sentially an abridgment of the edition which preceded it.

In an address delivered before the Pennsylvania-German
Society on the occasion of its first annual meeting, October 1891,
Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, Former Governor of Pennsyl-

"Philipp Wackernagel: Das dcutsche Kirchenlied von den aeltestcn
Zeiten bis zu Anfang des lyten Jahrhundcrts. 5 vols. Leipzig, 1864-1877.

1 A. F. H. Schneider: Zur Literatur der Schwenkfeldischen Lieder-
dichter bis Daniel Sudermann. Berlin, 1857.

14 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

vania, made the following reference to the results which the
Schwenkfelders have accomplished in the transcribing of their
own literature: "I want to call your attention to another sect,
the Schwenkfelders who came to Pennsylvania. They were the
followers of Caspar Schwenkfeld and the doctrines taught by him
were almost identical with those taught by the Quakers. They
came in 1734. Their literature was extensive and interesting.
It is reproduced for the most part in huge folios written upon
paper made at the Rittenhouse paper-mill on the Wissahickon, the
earliest in America. These volumes sometimes contained a
thousand pages, bound in stamped leather with brass corners and
brass mounting. Among the notable facts connected with
their history is the fact that they prepared a written description
of all the writings of Schwenkfeld and their other authors and
it is as far as I know the first attempt at a bibliography in this
country."

The early history of the Schwenkfelders furnishes the ex-
planation of this extraordinary activity in the copying of both
their printed works as well as unpublished manuscripts. Repeat-
edly, the literature of the sect was proscribed and the use of the
press forbidden them, so that for the preservation of the works
of their various writers they were dependent upon their transcrib-
ers. Of this activity, the collecting and copying of hymns has
always been a considerable part, and in our next chapter we list
bibliographically the numerous larger collections of hymns which
are still extant in manuscript and are products of the patient toil
of Schwenkfelder transcribers. Furthermore, we shall see that
some of the hymn-writers themselves served the sect as copyists.
Thus Adam Reissner and Daniel Sudermann compiled large folios
of hymns written by their own hands. A century later Caspar
Weiss produced a compilation of hymns in two volumes in manu-
script, in which he has perpetuated hymns written by Adam
Reissner, Daniel Sudermann, Raimund Weckher, Valentin Trill-
er, Antonius Oelsner, George Heydrich, Martin John, Jr., and
other Schwenkfelder hymn-writers. Again, George Weiss

INTRODUCTION 1 5

subjected the collection of Caspar Weiss, his father, to a
rearrangement and added more than 500 hymns of Schwenkfeld-
er authorship. It is also noteworthy that this activity did not
cease with the emigration of the sect from the Fatherland. The
present writer has thus far examined six folios besides numerous
quartos and a great variety of additional collections arranged for
church use, all of which were compiled or transcribed in America.
The extant manuscript hymn-books arranged for household use
(Taegliche Gesangbuecher) are also numerous. It has been the
writer's good fortune to unearth a number of important collec-
tions of hymns in manuscript and it is not unlikely that others
exist which will yet be discovered. We should, therefore, not
lose sight of the fact that the great mass of transcriptions — of
hymns, of sermons, of historical matter and of other literature —
produced by the Schwenkfelders in America represents the sur-
vival of the laborious work of transcribing which originated in
Europe more than two hundred years before, when printers were
forbidden to do press-work for the Schwenkfelders. Necessity
was the mother of the device, and in this way for a period of
more than two centuries preceding the emigration to America,
copies of the Schwenkfeld prints which had been saved from
seizure were multiplied, and both their earlier and their contem-
poraneous literature preserved.

Investigation has revealed the further fact that three col-
lections of hymns served as the principal manuscript sources of
the Schwenkf elder hymn-book of 1762, familiarly known as the
"Saur edition." The collections in question form a connected
series, beginning with the compilation of Caspar Weiss, which
was completed in 1709. Hence, the first Schwenkf elder hymn-
book printed in America was in part the result of a line of activity
in the compiling of hymns, which began at the very opening of
the 18th century, about 60 years before. The additional fact has
also been disclosed that this continued activity is marked from
its beginning to its close by a well-defined progression, — each
compiler after the originator, having operated with the completed

1 6 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

work of his predecessor as a basis. The series of collections
comprising the extent of this activity consists therefore, essentially
of four compilations of hymns, each regularly edited, although
the first three collections of the series were never issued in print-
ed form. Moreover, and singularly enough, the effort represented
by this activity was confined to four families of the sect : Caspar
Weiss of Harpersdorf, in Silesia, and the Rev. George Weiss, his
son ; the Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann and his son, the Rev. Christo-
pher Hoffmann; Hans Christoph Huebner, and the Rev. Chris-
topher Schultz. With the exception of Caspar Weiss, who died
in Silesia before the emigration to Saxony, all were immi-
grants to America. George Weiss, Balthaser Hoffmann and
Christopher Schultz were writers of hymns. And not only to
Rev. Christopher Schultz as editor, but to each one of these com-
pilers must be conceded a share in the credit for the ultimate pro-
duct, the Neu-eingerichtetes Gesangbuch of 1762.

CHAPTER II.

Descriptive Bibliography.1

This descriptive bibliographical list includes only collections
of hymns, manuscript and printed. The compiler or author is in
every instance a Schwenkfelder. Early German religious prints
other than hymn-books not infrequently contained a few hymns;
and a number of hymns of Schwenkfelder authorship were first
published separately in this manner. But such prints are not
included in this list. Likewise, collections which contain
Schwenkfelder hymns but are not Schwenkfelder compilations
are excluded. The list affords a survey of the activity of the
sect in the writing as well as in the collecting and arranging of
hymns for devotional use, privately and in their meetings for
worship. The numbers in this bibliography marked thus (*)
are the collections in folio and quarto which served as sources for
the "Saur edition," and include both the original manuscripts and
the transcriptions of them which are known to exist. All titles
are reproduced in German, with their original orthography. The
description of all the numbers in the list is given in English.
Those numbers which are not described as "manuscript" are col-
lections which have been issued in print.

I. 1546.

Octavo. 14 pages. Contains the hymn : Ein vogel ist aussge-
flogen. The hymn consists of 31 strophes of 7 lines. It is a polemic
in defense of the doctrine of Schwenkfeld. Preceding the hymn is
an "Exhortation to the Reader" in rhymed couplets. (Royal Li-
brary, Dresden.)

1 Compare : Schneider, loco citato, pp. 12-18. Wackernagel, Vol. I, part
II. Koch, Vol. II.

(17)

l8 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

II. I565.

Octavo. 30 pages. Contains the following three hymns :
In alten gschichten gschriben staht,
Nu hort mir zu in meim gedicht,
Herr Jhesu Christe starker Gott.

The first hymn consists of 34 strophes of 13 lines. The second
is in 10 strophes of 13 lines. The third is in 19 strophes of 5 lines.
Of the first two, Adam Reissner is the author. The third is prob-
ably not from his pen. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

III. 1565-

Ein schon Lied, Von der | Ruten vnd Kinder zucht. Im thon,
I Ich stundt an einem morgen. | Allen Eltern vnd Kindern, sher
niitz I vnd not, in disen zeiten zu singen.

Octavo. 7 pages. Contains the hymn : Ein Liedlein wil ich
dichten, Zu lob der Ruten gut. It is in 18 strophes of 7 lines. The
sentiment of the hymn is that of the proverb: "Spare the rod and
spoil the child." The author is Alexander Heldt. (Royal Library,
Berlin.)

IV. 1570.

Octavo. 6 pages. A new edition of the hymn of Alexander
Heldt on the training of children. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

V. 1587.

Geistliche Lieder. I Daniel Suderman. | Die Kinder diser
Welt sind Kliiger den die Kinder des | liechts, in Irem ge-

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 19

schlecht. Luc. XVI. Aber, Gott forchten | ist die volkomne
Weiszheit. Eccl. I. Gott forchten ist weit | vber alles. Eccl.
XXV. Gott forchten, vnd vor augen haben ist | weiszheit,
vnd vom bosen weichen, ist verstand. Job. XXVIII. | Singend ein
lobgesang, Lobend Gott vber allc seine Werck, | Gebend dem Herrn
Herrligkeit vnd eehr, veriahend sein lob mitt | euweren lafftzen, Ja
mit den gsang euwerer lafftzen, mit den | Harpffen, vnd seitenspilen
Eccl. XXXIX. Leerend vnd ernia- | nend euch selbs mit gesangen
vnd geistlichen liederen, in der gnad, | vnd singend dem herren in
euwerem hertzen. Col. 3. | Zu Straszburg, Im Bruderhoff. | 1587.
Manuscript in folio. Will be designated as Si in the list of
Sudermann collections included in our discussion of this hymn-
writer in the next chapter. 538 pages. Chronologically, this is the
first collection of Sudermann's hymns. The author is also the com-
piler. It contains a number of his very earliest compositions, written
in the years 1572 ft. Every hymn is furnished with corrections sup-
plied in Sudermann's own hand about 30 years after the engrossing
of the manuscript. The succession of poems is occasionally inter-
rupted by passages from St. Jerome, St. Chrysostom, St. Augustine
and other Church Fathers, in French translation. (Royal Library,
Berlin.)

VI. 1596.

Manuscript in folio. 734 pages. This is a compilation consist-
ing of (1) hymns written by Adam Reissner, and (2) hymns col-
lected by Reissner from other Schwenkfelder writers. The next
number in this series has many hymns in common with this manu-
script. The collection comprises six distinct sections, with a sep-
arate title-page for each section. The titles of the successive sec-
tions are included in this account. The first section comprises Reiss-

20 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

ner's translations of the Latin hymns of Aurelius Prudentius. Fol-
lowing we reproduce the title-page of the second section :

All the hymns of this section are by Adam Reissner. They
include many of his metrical versions of the Psalms. Following is
the title of the third section :

This is the largest of the six divisions of the collection. Of
most of the hymns of this section, Adam Reissner is only the col-
lector. Of a few he is also the author. The title of the fourth
section follows :

Von Abendmal I DES HERREN. | Vom figiirlichen Opfer
Fest PASCHA | vom Opfer Lamb vnd was es bedeutet hab. |
Durch I A.R.

Six hymns on the Lord's Supper and the Atonement. The first
is unquestionably by Reissner. The authorship of the others is un-
certain. Following we reproduce in part the fifth title-page :

Geistliche Gsang I Ausz Ilailiger Geschrifft | Das Christus
bald komen werd zurichten.

MOSEH SOPHONIAH

DAVID HOSEAH

ESAIAH BARVCH

IEREMIAH DANIEL

HABACVK MACABEER

This title-page bears the date 1596. This is also the date of the
next number in this series. This section contains hymns on the
Judgment. The brief title of the last section is as follows :

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 21

Hernach folgen Gesanng, Wie I sich ein mensch in Ver-
lichner gnad Christi auf sein Zukonnfft berai- | ten mechte.

This part of the collection contains chiefly hymns on the Second
Coming of Christ. The orthography of this manuscript seems to
point to Strassburg. It contains a total of 175 hymns. Of these,
44 are unquestionably, and 10 others possibly, by Adam Reissner.
All the hymns of this collection are presumably of Schwenkfelder
authorship.- (Herzogliche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

VII. 1596.

Manuscript in folio. 572 pages. In this collection and in the
collection which we have just described, most of the hymns by
Adam Reissner have been preserved. This manuscript, like the pre-
ceding, contains hymns by various Schwenkfelder writers in addition
to those by Reissner. The compiler of this collection was the dis-
tinguished Schwenkfelder and prolific hymn-writer Daniel Suder-
mann, in whose hand the entire manuscript is neatly engrossed. The
first division of the volume embraces those translations of the Latin
hymns of Prudentius contained in the preceding number, here re-
arranged. Then a new title-page, as follows :

PRYDRXTII ENCHIRIDION. | Eua Columba fuit, turn Can-
dida nigra deinde. | Kleine Bibel. | Namen vnnd wunderge-
schichten dess Alten | vnnd Newen Testaments.

This part of the collection comprises a translation of the
Enchiridion, or handbook of devotions, of Aurelius Prudentius. It
is the enlargement indicated on the title-page of the book. Who
translated these Latin hymns, we are not told. Again a new title,
as follows :

!Cf. Wackernagel, loco citato, Vol. I, p. 591.

22 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

This section is supplied with a preface by Sudermann, possibly
indicating that he intended to have these hymns published in the
form of a hymn-book. From this preface, as well as from the title
and the passages of Scripture which follow it, we may assume (i)
that these hymns were gathered from Schwenkfelder writers only
and (2) that the collection was prepared in defense of the position
of the Schwenkfelders with regard to the Lord's Supper. This
manuscript contains 117 hymns. It closes with the following verses:3

Zu Christi lob, Glori vnd preisz,

Audi Ehr, hab ich diss Buc'h, mit vleisz.

Zusammen bracht : Gebenedeyt,

Der an den tag brengt, solche warheit :

Verbannet audi dagegen sey,

Ders noch entfrembd, vnd nit last frey,

Oder, ausz Neyd, zumal verdirbt :

Gott such Ihn heim, die dan er stirbt.

D. S.
VIII. 1597.

Geistliche Liedf.r. I Zur Ermanung vnnd anhaltung, trieb,
vnd vbung, | Das man Im Hauss Gottes nit schlafferig seye : | Son-
der allzeit Wachen, betten, vnd ermancn soil. | I. Teil. | Die Kinder
diser Welt seind Kliiger dan die Kinder | des liechts In Ihrem ge-
schlecht. Luc. : 16. Aber Gott | forchten vnd vor augen haben ist
Weiszheit, vnnd vom | bosen weichen, ist verstand. Job : 28. Gott
forchten ist | Die volkomme Weissheit. Eccl: i. Gott forchten ist
weit I vber alles. Eccl: 25. | Ihr sollends ihm nit verbieten : Wer
nit ist wider vns, | Der ist fur vns. Marc: 9. I. Cor: I2A. Dan
der einig Geist wiirckt | alles, vnd theilt einem Jeglichen seines zu,
nach dem Er will &c. | I. Cor: 14. Coloss: 3. | Psallierend in ewerm
hertzen dem herren, lehrend vnd erinnert | ein ander, mit Psalmen,
Gesangen vnd geistlichen liedern, Singet | in der gnad jn ewerm
hertzen. | Durch, | Daniel Suderman zu Strassburg &c. ] sein Erste
vbung &c.

Manuscript in folio. 1071 pages. Will be designated hereafter
as Si 1 of the Sudermann collections. Chronologically, it is the
second collection of hymns by Daniel Sudermann. Most of these

"Cf. Wackernagel, loco citato, Vol. I, p. 596.

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 2$

hymns were written in the period 1588 — 1597. They number in the
aggregate 558. However, the collection contains hymns which were
admitted from manuscript Si, so that they were not all new hymns.
Of the hymns which this collection comprises, 26 have appeared in
print. Of these, some had been printed before the completion of
the collection. In the years 1605 and 1606, the Prussian composer
Hans Schults copied from this volume a considerable number of
hymns which he set to music. According to a note contained in
the manuscript, this collection originally comprised two volumes.
Of the companion volume (II. Theil) the writer has nowhere else
found mention. It is probably no longer extant. Most of the hymns
contained in this collection were admitted into the three volumes
which constitute the next three numbers in this series — a manuscript
hymn-book in three Parts, quarto. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

IX. 1615.

Manuscript in quarto. 1044 pages. This is the first of three
volumes which constitute chronologically the third collection of Su-
dermann hymns. We shall designate these volumes Snia, Si lib
and Sine respectively. The collection was probably completed 1615
— possibly later. Immediately preceding the hymns is an extension
of the title, from which it appears that Sudermann intended at this
time to issue in printed form a complete collection of his hymns.
About one-third of the space of the first volume is devoted to hymns
for children, with such marginal notes as "Kinderlieder" and "Zur
kinder leer." The total of hymns in this volume is 780, of which
39 have appeared in print. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

24 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

X. 1615.

Manuscript in quarto. 1010 pages. This is collection Sm&
of the Sudermann hymns. The date is the same as that of the pre-
ceding number. It contains a smaller number of "Kinderlieder"
than the first volume. Passages from the Scriptures, the Church
Fathers and the mystics Eckhart and Tauler, are numerous. There
are also two hymns copied from the writings of Tauler, given with
the text normalized by Sudermann. The hymns in this volume
number 376. 38 have appeared in print. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

XI. 1615.

Manuscript in quarto. 1134 pages. This is the third part of
Sudermann's "Gsangbuch, Newer geistlicher Lieder." We shall
designate it as Sine. The date is 1615 (circa). This volume con-
tains 1 107 hymns, of which about 40 have been printed. (Royal
Library, Berlin.)

The three volumes which we have just discussed are composed
of (1) hymns copied from the two folio volumes, Si and Sn, of
Sudermann hymns, and (2) new hymns written in the years 1600 —
1615 (circa). Those transcribed from the two earlier collections
were in many cases revised at this time. No one of the three vol-
umes of this hymn-book contains an index of first lines.

XII. 1618.

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 25

Octavo. 32 pages. Contains the following three hymns :
Ein Tochter Jung, von Sion her,
Gott sey gelobt, in ewigkeit,
Liebende Seel, welche nun bist.

The first is in rhymed couplets. The second is in 22 strophes
of 8 lines. The third is in 7 strophes of 8 lines. We shall desig-
nate it as Siv in our list of collections of Sudermann hymns. (Her-
zogliche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

XIII. 1619.

Ein Gute Lehr, I Wie die Christliche Jungfra- | wen, das ist,
die liebhabende glaubi- | ge Seele, ein Geistlicher wolbewarter
Blum- I men gartlein, in jhren hertzen pflantzen sollen. * * *
D. S. I Bey Jacob von der Heyden Calco- | graphum Anno 1619.

Octavo. 16 pages. Will hereafter be designated as Sv. This
print contains four didactic poems in rhymed couplets, and the
hymn :

Hort jhr lieben Jungfrawen,
in 17 strophes of 8 lines. (Herzogliche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

XIV. 1619.

Five Leaves in Folio with Didactic Poems by Daniel Suder-
mann.

Will hereafter be designated as Svi. There are five poems,
typographed. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

XV. 1620.

This is the first of four related collections of hymns by Daniel
Sudermann which will hereafter be designated as Sviia, Sviib, Sviic
and Svnrf, respectively. This series of publications is extraordinary
with regard to both content and the character of the imprints. Each

26 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

number in the series consists of 50 leaves in folio printed from en-
graved copper-plates. The arrangement in the case of each plate is
as follows : First, a heading ; under it a symbolic illustration, in
form rectangular ; under this, a poem. Beside and below the poem
are passages of Scripture or excerpts from the mystics. Illustra-
tion and poem interpret these passages. At the bottom of the plate
are the initials "D. S." and the engraver's mark. A few copies of
these rare imprints have been preserved by the Schwenkfelders in
America. Of the first number there is a copy in the Royal Library,
Berlin, and one in the Herzogliche Bibliothek at Wolfenbiittel. It
was printed at Strassburg, 1620.

XVI. 1620.

SCHONE AUSZEELESENE SlNREICIIE FlGUREN, | auch GleichllUS-

sen, Erklarungen Gebettlein Mid hohe | lehr. | Durch D. S. | Ge-
druckt bey Jacob von der Ileyden Kupferstecher.

The second collection in the series under discussion. Will here-
after be designated as Svnb. Printed at Strassburg, 1620. (Royal
Library, Berlin, and Herzogliche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

XVII. 1622.

Ein schone Lehr, von den sieben Graden, | oder Staffeln der
volkommenen Liebe, in denen die Gesponsz | Christi wandeln soil,
Anno 1489. beschrieben, vnd jetzt | von Wort zu Wort in Druck ge-
geben, durch D. S. | M. DC. XXII.

Folio. 12 pages. This is a treatise on perfect love. It contains
(1) an essay written 1489 by Heinrich Vigilis von Weissenburg and
found in manuscript form by Sudermann; (2) an enumeration of
24 "marks" of divine love, culled from the writings of Eckhard and
Tauler ; (3) the following hymn by Sudermann:

Ein Mensch auffs new geboren schon,

in 12 strophes of 4 lines. Will hereafter be designated as Svm.
(Royal Library, Berlin.)

XVIII. 1622.

Twelve Leaves in Folio with Religious Poems by Daniel Su-
dermann.

The second page of each leaf is blank. The arrangement of the

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 2J

printed pages is essentially the same as in the case of numbers XV.,
XVI., XXII. and XXIV. of this bibliography — the series consisting
of symbolic illustrations with interpretations in verse, printed from
copper-plates. These leaves are typographed. They contain 12
poems, of which 9 are in rhymed couplets. This collection will here-
after be designated as Six. (Royal Library, Berlin, and Herzog-
liche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

XIX. 1622.

druckt zu Franckfurt bey Eberhardt Kieser, | In verlegung Jacobs
von der Heyden, | Chalcograph : Anno | M. DC. XXII.

Folio. 68 leaves. In point of arrangement, this imprint is a
slight variation from the Sudermann collections printed from cop-
per-plates. In this collection the purely didactic poems are more
numerous than the hymns. There are 23 hymns, of which three had
already been published in collection Siv. This collection will here-
after be designated as Sx. (Royal Library, Berlin.)

XX. 1625.

Hymns and Religious Poems by Daniel Sudermann on Char-
ity and Malevolence, Harmony and Discord, Peace and War.

Folio. 16 pages, with no collective title. There are 18 poems,
of which 8 are arranged for use as hymns. This collection will
hereafter be designated as Sxi. (Herzogliche Bibliothek, Wolfen-
biittel.)

XXI. 1625.

Schone auszerlesne Sinnreiche Figuren. I Durch D. S. j
Der III theil. | Gedruckt bey Johan Erhard Wagner.

The third collection in the series printed from copper-plates.
Will hereafter be designated as Sviic. Printed at Strassburg, 1625
(circa). (Royal Library, Berlin.)

XXII. 1626.

Etliche I Hohe geistliche Gesaenge, Sampt anderen | Geist-
reichcn getichten. so ausz der I alten Christlichen Kirchenlehrer vnd

28 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

jhrer | nachvolger Biichern gezogen. | durch D. S. | * * * Zu
finden bey Jacob von der Heyden | Chalcographo.

Octavo. 144 pages. There are 42 poems, of which 33 are ar-
ranged for use as hymns. Copper-plate illustrations accompany 13
of the poems. This collection will hereafter be designated as Sxn.
(Herzogliche Bibliothek, Wolfenbiittel.)

XXIII. 1628.

X X X X X. I SCHONER AUSZERLESENER SlNNREICHER FlGUREN.

I Durch D. S. | Der IIII theil. | Ins kupfer gebracht vnd in druck
geben durch Jacob von der Heyden 1628.

This is the fourth collection in the series printed from copper-
plates, and will hereafter be designated as Svurf. (Royal Library,
Berlin.)

XXIV.* 1709.

A COLLECTION OF HYMNS COMPILED BY CASPAR WEISS.

Manuscript. This is the collection which seems to have been the
origin of the series from which the "Saur edition" developed. A
subsequent chapter is devoted to an account of the hymns of this
collection and includes a sketch of the compiler. Whether the orig-
inal manuscript still exists, has not been fully determined.4

XXV.* 1733.

Christliches- und dabey auch Tagliches | Gesang-Buch | Darin-
nen enthalten : Geistliche Gesang und Lider, In welchen | Di Haupt-
Punct und Artikkel der Christlichen Lehr und Glaubens | kurtz ver-
fasset und ausgeleget sind. An izt von neuem zusamen getragen, |
und vom Authore fur sich und di Seinigen zu einer Anweisungs-
Regel eingetheilet, | Auff alle | Sonn- Hohefest- und Feyertage
durchs gantze Jahr, bey Ermangelung des | offentlichen reinen und
apostolischen Gottes-Dinsts, solches in der Stille und im Hause

'There is a manuscript in the possession of Dr. Julius F. Sachse, of
Philadelphia, which may prove to he either the original or a copy of this
collection. This manuscript the writer has seen, but did not have the oppor-
tunity for an extended examination of it. Besides, the title-page, the preface,
and a part of the index are missing. A. F. H. Schneider also found in
Harpersdorf a manuscript of hymns, the identity of which has not been
established. (Cf. Zur Litcratur der Schwenkfeldischen Liederdichter bis
Daniel Sudermann, p. 21.)

>
o

Eft -Har*^0

*» ^T* 5 J Li 3 o? el* » rt t» •*-

» IS"

"Iter Hit to^-

Ft!

« 5

R'"t.

!s1p

.^■1 ..>,-, ,^«>-2.rv ., - nmtr .n",ur-M.^ »<inf»

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 29

zugebrauchen : | Gotte damit zu loben, sich selbst zu ermahnen und
zu unterweisen, zu seiner selbst Erbauung im Christen- | thum, und
in reiner freyer Libe zu iiben, bisz Gott was bessers, und mehr
Gnad [ und Freyheit gibet, ihm im Geist und Wahrheit zudinen. |
ANNO MDCCIX. | Und an izt nochmahlen auffs neu mit mehr
geistreichen Gesangen vermehret und ver- | grossert, wi in der Yor-
rede, im funfften Artikkel und folgends zusehen, und in Yier
Abthei- | lungen zu Sonntaglicher Ubung geordnet und eingetheilet, j
Abgeschriben und vollendet, im Jahr Christi MDCCXXXIII.

Manuscript. Transverse quarto. The hymns comprise 761 pages
of illuminative writing, "Frakturschrift" neatly executed. Each page
has two columns. Individual lines of the strophes not separated.
The title-page is well preserved. Passages of Scripture fill three-
fourths of the reverse of the title-page. The text of the title as far
as "ANNO MDCCIX" is presumably the title of the collection of
that year. Four leaves are missing from the preface, which consist-
ed of eleven leaves. It embodies the preface of the collection of
1709. There is an index of first lines, an index of '"Psalmlieder," and
a third index which lists the hymns by authors. The present manu-
script and the next number in our list together comprise the collec-
tion compiled by Rev. George Weiss. A later chapter is devoted to
an account of the sources, the content and the arrangement of this
collection. The present volume is the property of Rev. O. S. Krie-
bel, D.D., Principal of Perkiomen Seminary, Pennsburg, Pennsyl-
vania.

XXVI* 1734-

Manuscript. Transverse quarto. The hymns comprise 863
pages of the same hand-writing as that of the volume just described.
The writing is illuminative. This manuscript is well preserved
throughout. It is the companion of number XXY. Both volumes
are bound in stamped leather and have clasps and metallic mounts
and corners. This volume contains hymns for the Sundays, holy-
days and Saints' Days between Whitsuntide and Advent. There
are three indexes, as in the case of the companion volume. (Li-
brary of Hartford Theological Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut.)

3<3 SCHWENKFELDER IIYMNOLOGY

XXVII.* 1752.

Manuscript in folio. The hymns fill 866 pages, and are written
upon Rittenhouse paper.5 This is a transcription of the hymns of
the second volume of the compilation by Rev. George Weiss. The
transcriber was Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann. Interpretations, supplied
by the transcriber, accompany a number of the hymns. The mar-
gins contain copious annotations and Scripture references, of which
but few are contained in the volume of 1734. (Historical Society
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.)

XXVIII.* 1753.

Manuscript in folio. This is a transcription of the hymns of the
first volume of the compilation by Rev. George Weiss. The tran-
scriber is again Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann. As in the case of the

'Compare statement of Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, LL. D., cited on p. 14.

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 3 1

preceding number, there are numerous interpretations, supplied by
the transcriber. Annotations and Scripture references abound.
The hymns comprise 989 pages. These companion volumes are
bound in leather and provided with stout brass corners and mounts
— the work presumably of Rev. Christopher Hoffmann, who was the
bookbinder of the Schwenkfelders. (Historical Society of Penn-
sylvania, Philadelphia.)

XXIX.* 1758.

Manuscript in folio. On the reverse of the title-page are five
passages of Scripture. The hymns comprise 1022 pages. There is
an introduction of 33 pages. There are also two indexes, compris-
ing 25 pages. The volume contains 800 hymns, in the graceful
Fraktur of Hans Christoph Hiibner. Annotations, Scripture refer-
ences and index fingers abound. Those hymns which are transla-
tions of Latin hymns are given in parallel columns with their Latin
originals. The initials of the authors are written in the margin be-
side the hymns. The present manuscript and the next number in
our list together comprise the last re-arrangement of the Schwenk-
felder hymns preceding the appearance of the printed hymn-book.
This volume is of Rittenhouse paper and has a durable leather bind-
ing. It is the property of the estate of Henry H. Heebner, Worces-
ter, Pennsylvania.

32 SCIIWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

XXX.* 1759.

Manuscript in folio. There is an introduction of six pages.
The hymns with copious annotations fill 1204 pages. This volume
contains only the six series of hymns designated in the title. Our
characterization of these series follows in a later chapter. The
hymns of the various series are distributed throughout the book, and
are arranged according to the church year. The hymns for each
Sunday and holy-day are grouped under four heads : Friihc, Vor-
mittage, Nachmittage, Vesper. With each group, the compiler indi-
cates the hymns of the corresponding group "in the first collection"
(im ersten Buche) which are not contained in this volume. He re-
fers to the collection of 1758. The present volume contains 879
hymns, again in the pleasing hand of Hans Christoph Hiibner. In
the index of first lines those hymns which are contained in the
collection of Caspar Weiss (1709) are indicated by a red initial.
(Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg.)

XXXI.* 1760.

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

zuermahnen unci | zuunt'erweisen, zu seiner selbst Erbauung im
Christenthum. | 1st auch versehen mit einem Register; nach wel-
chem | die Gesange, auf alle Hobefeste, Sonn- unci Feyer- Tage j
durchs gantze Jahr, eingetbeilet sind, dasz selbe zu denen E- | van-
gelien (nach Belieben, und wem es gefallig ist solche Ordnung | zu-
gebrauchen) konnen gebraucht, geiibet und betrachtet werden. |,
Also zusammen geordnet und geschrieben | Im Jahr Christi M DCC.
LVIII. | Abgeschrieben und Vollendet | Ira Jahr M DCC LX.

Manuscript in folio. 977 pages. With regard to the hymns
which it contains, this volume is a transcription of number XXIX.
of this bibliography. The introduction of this volume contains in-
formation which the present writer has nowhere else found.
Throughout the manuscript the "corrections" or variant readings in-
troduced into numerous hymns by Caspar Weiss and George Weiss
are indicated. In the seventh chapter of the present monograph, a
fuller account is given of the special features of this hymn-book. It
was written by Christopher Hoffmann. As a specimen of the sur-
vival of the medieval art of illuminative writing, it is doubtless the
choicest manuscript produced by the Schwenkf elders in America. It
is in the possession of Hon. Samuel W. Pennypacker, LL.D.,
Pennypacker's Mills, Pennsylvania.

XXXII. 1762.

12 mo. Pages XXXIII plus 760. There are also three indexes.
This is the "Saur edition" of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book, the first
hymn-book of the Schwenkfelders printed in America. It contains
917 hymns. Our last chapter is devoted to an account of this hymn
book. Many copies of this imprint still exist, in Schwenkfelder
families and in historical collections.

34 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

XXXIII. 1765.

Ein I ander Christliches | Gesang Buch | Welches in sich be-
greifft und enthalt | Die hundert und funffzig Psalmen Da- | vids
gereimet,| und die biblischen Geschichte.| Die Lieder Daniel Sud-
ermanns : Die Medita- | tiones : und die geordnete Evangelions- und |
Epistel- Texte, gereimet, durchs gantze Jahr. | Zu einer niitzliclien
Hausz-Uebung, als auch zu eigner Er- | mahnung und Erbauung im
Christenthum. | 1st auch versehen mit einem Register, nach wel-
chem die Lie- | der auf alle Sonn- Hohe Fest und Feyer- Tage
durchs I gantze Jahr zu denen Evangelien (nach Belieben u. wenn
es gefallig ist) konnen betrachtet werden. | Jetzund also zusammen
geschrieben und vollendet Anno MDCCLXV.

Manuscript in folio. This volume is a re-writing of that of the
year 1759, and contains only the hymns of said volume. In our
present number, each series of hymns is separate, is provided with a
special title-page and has its own preface. The transcriber is Hans
Christoph Hiibner. (Schwenckfeld Library, Pennsburg, Pennsyl-
vania.)

XXXIV. 1813.

Small 6to. Pages VIII plus 538. Three indexes. This is the
second edition of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book. It is essentially an
abridgment of the edition of 1762. It contains 695 hymns, of
which 45 are not contained in the first edition. Numerous copies

still exist.

XXXV. 1869.

Small i6mo. Pages VIII plus 540. Two indexes. This is the
third edition of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book. It contains 343
hymns, of which 92 are not contained in either of the earlier edi-
tions. It is the present German hymnal of the Schwenkfelders.

DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

PREFACE OF THE "TEGLICHS GESANGBUCH" OF ADAM
REISSNER. 1596. (No. VI.)

VORRED.6

In disem Buech seind die gaistliche gsanng des Gottesgelehrten
Christen manns, mit Namen Aurelius Prudentius, die er diurnarum
precum opus sive diurnale, das ist Teglichs gsanngbuech genannt, die
man alle tag vnnd alle stund, zu morgens und zu abends, mag singen
vnnd betrachten, in Lateinischen versen geschriben hat, jeczt mit
allem fleiss verteutscht worden, nachmals auch gsang vsz hailiger
schrifft vnnd andere gaistliche Lieder, zum Lob gottes, vnnsers
Herrn Jesu Christe, des ainigen Seligmachers, vnnd alien christ-
gleubigen zur beszerung vnnd zur teglichen iibung zusamen
geschriben.

Dise gsanng vnnd reimen sein nit so gering ding, vie man mecht
achten, oder obhin ansehen, dann hierausz mag der Gottszforchtig
mensch lernen, was die siind vnnd gnad ist, was der fluech vnnd der
segen, was die verdamnus vnnd seligkait, was tod vnnd leben, was
hell vnnd himel, jnn Summa, was der verfurer Satan, vnnd dargegen
der ainig Hailmacher Christus jst.

Es jst disz gsanngbuech furnemblich nucz vnnd dienstlich alien
Hauszleuten, die sich bekeren vnd jn himel trachten, Mannen, Wei-
bern, Junckhfrawen vnnd Kindern, insonnderhait auch Hanndt-
werkhs-leuten, die den ganczen tag ob der arbait muessen siczen,
wurckhen vnd spinnen, die miigen alle Zeit, guette iibung, guete ge-
danckhen vnd hailsame betrachtung haben, vnnd dardurch zum selig-
machenden erkanntnis Jesu Christj (an welchem allein die ewig selig-
kait gelegen) gefuhrt werden, Sonnderlich wann sie dise Lieder ausz-
wendig lernen, jn gedechtnus fassen, sich selbs der wolthaten Gottes
erjnnern, erfreuwen vnnd den zuhorern im Nachgedenckhen mach-
en, vnnd also alle menschen vrsach haben, jrm hail vnnd seligwer-
dung nachzutrachten, aller schwermiietigkait vnnd Anfechtung wi-
derstannd thuen.

Hierzu well der Herr Christus sein Segen vnd frid geben, das
es jederman lese vnnd bedenckhen, sonnderlich zu diser gefehrlichen
Zeit, da schier Niemandts waist wa ausz vnnd an, so doch allertrost,

' Reprinted from Wackernagel, Vol. I.

36 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

hilff vnnd hayl zusuchen vnnd zufinden, allein beim Ainigen Hayl-
macher Christo, vff welchen alle lobsang gericht, das man sie nit
allein singen, sonnder vilmehr leesen, bedenckhen vnnd teglich beeten
mag, welches dann der recht gaistlich gsang vnnd frid jm herczen jst
jn allem triebsal.

Das alles welle ihm der Gottszforchtige Christglaubige leser,
beuolchen lassen, vnnd zu besserer erkantnus der wahrhait, sich dar
jnn ersehen, leesen, singen, vnnd jn seinem herczen teglich bedenckh-
en, darneben mit fleissigem gebeth, beim Herren Christo anhalten,
das er vns alien welle seinen frid geben, vnnd durch seinen hailigen
gaist erleuchten, from, hailig, vnnd seines ewigen Reiches vnnd
Lebens thailhafft machen. Amen.

CHAPTER III.

The Schwenkfelder Hymn- Writers of the Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Centuries.

It will be the design of this chapter to provide an account
of the Schwenkfelder hymn-writers whose activity had termi-
nated before the emigration of the sect to America. Limitation
in the matter of space necessitates the exclusion of much inter-
esting material which had been prepared for this part of our
narrative. Consequently we shall confine the account to a chro-
nological list of these writers and a series of brief biographical
sketches of the more important members of the group. Those
writers who were among the immigrants will be treated in our
account of the American period in subsequent chapters.

The Schwenkfelder hymn-writers of the European period
are:

Valentin Crautwald,

1465 (?)— 1545

Georg Berkenmeyer,

(?) — i54Sca.

Johann Schweintzer,

(?) — 1560 ca.

Adam Reissner,

1496 — 1575(F)

Valentin Triller,

(?) — i58oca.

Johann Raiimmd Weckhe

r, wrote (circa)

1540 —1570

Sebastian Franck,

1500 ca.— 1545

Alexander Berner,

wrote

1550 ca.

Bernhard Herxheimer,

wrote (circa)

1555 ff.

Alexander Heldt,

wrote

1565 ff-

Sigmund Bosch,

wrote

1570 ca.

Daniel Sudermann,

1550 — 1631

George Frell,

wrote (circa)

1575 #.

Claus Stuntz,

wrote

1580 ca.

Antonius Oelsner,

wrote (circa)

1590 ff.

Anna Hoyer,

1584 —1656

George Heydrich,

( ?) —1657 ca.

Martin John, Jr.,

1624 — 1707

Valentin Crautwald is a name not unfamiliar to stu-

(37)

38 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

dents of church history. Of his early life we know but little.
An autobiographical sketch written 1540 is preserved in manu-
script in the Herzogliche Bibliothek at Wolfenbiittel.1 It fails
to give the year of his birth. It records, however, that he was
born at Neisse, Silesia, the native town of Michael Weisse,
originator of the German hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren.
He and Weisse were contemporaries and we may safely assume
that they were acquainted. In 1523 he was called to Liegnitz
as prebendary (Domherr) or Lector. This appointment he prob-
ably owed to Schwenkfeld.2 He was an intimate of Schwenkfeld
and for more than twenty years he ardently championed the cause
of the Middle Way, as the Reformation under Schwenkfeld was
called. For his accomplishments in Hebrew, Greek and Latin
he enjoyed a wide reputation and was recognized as a gifted
writer of religious verse, of which some was written in defense
of Schwenkfeld. He died in Liegnitz, 1545, and is said to have
reached the age of 80 years.

Georg Berkenmeyer was exhorter in the Swabian city
of Ulm. He is the author of a number of writings directed
against Romanism and defending the doctrine of the "inner
light." The period of his activity was, approximately, I525_
1545. At the time of the prosecution of Schwenkfeld by the
town-council of Ulm, 1540, Berkenmeyer was indicted for par-
tisanship with Schwenkfeld. His best known hymns are:

"O Herr, bisz du mein Zuversicht", and
"O du betriibter Jesu Christ."

The former was printed at Strassburg, 1568, 1569 and 1580.
Also at Niirnberg, 1607. The latter at Strassburg, 1580 and

I58S-

Johann Schweintzer was a Silesian and a pupil of Valen-
tin Crautwald. In 1530, in partnership with Petrus Schaefer, he
set up a printing press at Strassburg. Among the products of

1 Cf. A. F. H. Schneider, loco citato, p. 4f.
' Cf. Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum, I, 151.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 39

his press were editions of the writings of Crautwald and also
of a few works by Schwenkfeld, including his confession of
faith. Schweintzer had been associated with Schwenkfeld in
Liegnitz and followed him to Strassburg in 1529. In 1556, he
was subjected to a trial for his Schwenkfeldianism. The follow-
ing hymns by Schweintzer are noteworthy:

"Gluckselig ist der Mann",

"O hochster Gott in deinem Thron", and

"Dasz Gott der Herr so freundlich ist."

All three appeared in the Strassburg hymn-book of 1537. The
third appeared also in the Augsburg hymn-book (edited by
Salminger), 1537, and in Zwick's hymn-book published at
Zurich, 1540.

Adam Reissner (or Reusner) was born in 1496 at Mtin-
delheim (now Mindelheim) in Bavaria. He first studied at Wit-
tenberg, and afterwards, about 1520, he learned Hebrew and
Greek under the noted humanist Johann Reuchlin. He then
became private secretary to Georg von Frundsberg (who died
1528) and accompanied him during the campaign in Italy, 1526-
1527. After the capture of Rome in 1527 he went back to Ger-
many, locating in Strassburg. It may be well to remind our-
selves that Schwenkfeld was in Strassburg during the period
1529-1535; and it was during his sojourn in Strassburg that
Reissner made the personal acquaintance of Schwenkfeld.
Henceforth he remained a loyal adherent and friend of the
Silesian Reformer, as he himself said, "despite all opposition and
affliction." The duration of his stay in Strassburg is uncertain.
For some years he pursued the profession of the law in Frank-
furt-am-Main, but seems to have spent most of his life after
leaving Strassburg, in his native town of Mindelheim. Here in
retirement and contentment, his professional career and public
life dismissed from his mind, he found himself immersed in his
favorite occupation — study and the pursuit of literature. The
year of his death is not known with certainty, but was probably

40 SCHWENKFELDER HYMN0L0GY

1575. His motto, composed by himself and taking into consid-
eration his own Christian name, was :

"Was lebt, das stirbt durch Adams Noth,
Was stirbt, das lebt durch Christi Tod."

Adam Reissner's published works are these :

1. The Miracles of Jesus Christ.3 Printed by the Feierabend
press, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1565.

This is a folio of 672 pages. It contains a long religious poem
in 59 strophes of 7 lines, beginning :

"Der heylig Geist lasz gelingen."

The hymn is a summary of the miracles of Christ.

2. A History of the Military Exploits of Gcorg and Caspar
von Frundsberg. Frankfurt-am-Main, 1568. Second edition, 1572.

3. The Psalms Translated. Frankfurt, 1568. This is an edition
of Reissner's metrical versions of the Hebrew Psalms. Until recent
years the author's private copy of these hymns was in the possession
of Oberlehrer A. F. H. Schneider, the Schwenkfelder historian.

4. Jerusalem.4 Printed by the Feierabend press, Frankfurt-am-
Main, 1569.

This is a folio of 442 pages. It consists of three parts, of which
the first and second are dated 1565. It closes with the hymn — Jeru-
salem, heilig genannt. This hymn, by Reissner, is a translation of
the Latin hymn — Urbs beata Jerusalem. It is in 6 strophes of 6
lines, and forms the acrostic "Jhesus".

The Teglichs Gesangbuch, already discussed under number
VI. of our Descriptive Bibliography, is another important work
by Reissner. According to Koch,5 this collection was published
by Reissner. However, the manuscript of 1596 is the only
form in which it is now extant. Of all the Schwenkfelder hymn-
writers, in both Europe and America, the two greatest names
are Daniel Sudermann and Adam Reissner. True, Reissner's

3 "Miracvla, Wunderwerck Jhestt Christj. * * * Durch Adam Reissner."

4 "Iervsalem, Die Gaistlich himlisch Stat Gottes. * * * Durch Adam
Reissner."

* Koch, loco citato, II, 159.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 41

hymns do not, like those of Sudermann, number thousands ; but
they number hundreds, and their merit is unmistakable. Indeed,
Wackernagel, who gives twenty-five of Reissner's hymns in full,
expresses the opinion that he is the author of many hymns which
have hitherto been credited to other writers.

But of Reissner's most widely known hymn we have thus
far made no mention. It is the choice magnificent hymn — "In
dich hab ich gehofifet, Herr." This hymn is a metrical version
of the Thirty-first Psalm. It was first published in the Form
unci ordnung Geystlichcr Gcsang mid Psalmcn, Augsburg, 1533.
It appeared in Zwick's hymn-book, 1540, and in Babst's (Luth-
eran) hymn-book, 1545. It was included in most of the German
hymn-books up to the middle of the 18th century. It appeared
in the German hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren, editions
of 1606 and 1639, and subsequently in the Moravian hymn-
book. All the editions of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book con-
tain it. The following are well-known English translations of
this hymn:6

"In Thee, Lord, have I put my trust", — Catherine Winkworth;
"Great God! in Thee I put my trust",—/. C. Jacobi;
"Lord, I have trusted in Thy name", — Dr. H. Mills;
"On Thee, O Lord, my hopes I lean", — N. L. Ffothingham.

We reprint the hymn, employing the orthography of- the
first edition (1533).

PSALM XXXI.

IN TE DOMINE SPERAUI.

"In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr,

hilff, das ich nit zu schanden wer

noch ewigklich zu spotte.

Des bitt ich dich,

erhalte mich

in deiner trew, mein Gotte.

' Cf. Julian, loco citato, p. 955.

42 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

2. "Dein gnadig or nayg her zu mir,
erhoer mein beth, thu dich herfiir,
eyl bald mich zuerretten.

In angst vnd wee

ich lig vnd steh,

hilff mir in meinen notten.

3. "Mein Gott vnnd schirmer, steh mir bey,
sey mir ain burg, darinn ich frey

vnd ritterlich mog streytten

Wider mein feynd,

der gar vil seind

an mich auff bayden seytten.

4. "Du bist mein sterck, mein felsz, mein hort,
mein schildt, mein krafft, sagt mir dein wort,
mein hilff, mein hayl, mein leben,

Mein starcker Got

in aller not :

wer mag mir wider streben?

5. "Mir hat die welt truglich gericht
mit liegen vnd mit falschem dicht
vil netz vnd haimlich stricken :
Herr, nymm mein war

inn diser gfar,

bhiit mich vor falschen tiicken.

6. "Herr, meinen gayst beuilch ich dir,
mein Got, mein Got, weich nit von mir,
nimm mich in deine hende!

O warer Gott,

ausz aller not

hilff mir am letsten ende !

7. "Glori, lob, ehr vnd herligkait
sey Got vatern vnd sun berayt,
dem hailing gayst mit namen.
Die gottlich krafft

mach vns syghafft

durch Jesum Christum, Amen."

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 43

Valentin Triller was the editor of a hymn-book pub-
lished at Breslau, 1555.7 It contained 145 hymns, most of which
were products of his own pen. It was reprinted 1559, under
a new title.8 Triller's hymns include many revisions of old
German hymns and some translations of Latin hymns. Wacker-
nagel reprints 1 1 1 hymns which are credited to him. Up to
the time of his banishment from Silesia, in 1573, Triller stead-
fastly maintained that the persecution which he suffered, as a
Schwenkf elder by reputation, was wholly unjust, inasmuch as
he held religious views which were altogether peculiar. How-
ever, previous to the appearance of the first edition of his hymn-
book, some of his hymns had been printed as Schwenkfelder
hymns. Again, the early manuscript collections contain hymns
by Triller, and these are retained in the larger collections com-
piled in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. The Saur
edition, also, contains fifteen of Triller's hymns.

Daniel Sudermann,9 in whom the cause of the Middle
Way received both a fresh, a timely and powerful impetus, was
the scion of an old and honored family. One of his ancestors,
Hendricus (Heinrich) Sudermann, who lived in the 14th cen-
tury, was a knight and a patron of the Order of St. Alexius. In
the year 1432, and subsequently, Katharina Sudermann and
other members of the Sudermann family, who had taken the veil,
lived in the cloister of St. Gertrude at Koln, where they were
occupied with the transcribing of religious books. Many of
these manuscripts came into the possession of Daniel Suder-
mann, and one of them, written in 1469, was taken as the model
for his handwriting — the artistic engrossing hand of his numer-
ous manuscripts, which has always received unvarying high
praise for its symmetry and grace. Sudermann's father (1514-

7 "Ein Schlesich singebuchlein aus Gottlicher schrifft. * * * Durch
Valentinum Triller von Gora." (Cf. Wackernagel, loco citato, IV, igf.

8 "Ein Christlich Singebuch, fur Layen und Gelerten, Kinder und alten,
daheim und in Kirchen zu singen. * * * Durch Valentinum Triller von
Gora."

* Cf. Schneider, loco citato, p. gff. Koch, II. Allgemeine detitsche Biog-
raphic

44 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

1564), whose court-name was Lambert Suavius, was an artist
and copper-plate engraver. Among his patrons were Duke Will-
iam of Cleves, Duke Frederick of Saxony, the Duke of Weimar,
and two emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V. and
Maximilian II.

Daniel Sudermann was born at Liittich in the Netherlands,
February 24, 1550. But little is known of his early years. In
1558 we find him in school at Aachen. The year 1568 marks
the beginning of his long career as private tutor (Hofmeister)
to numerous young counts and noblemen. This activity con-
tinued for a period of more than twenty years. In 1576 he
was presented to the Emperor Maximilian, who "most gra-
ciously" furnished him with" an introduction to the newly ap-
pointed viceroy of the Netherlands. During these years he wrote
many poems in praise of his high-born patrons and friends. In
1585 he assumed the charge of the instruction of the sons of
the nobility at the Bruderhof in Strassburg. In 1594 he was
made vicar of the Bruderhof, where he lived until near the
close of his long life. As early as 1585, reprints and new edi-
tions of Schwenkfeld's works began to appear, issued under the
direction of Sudermann, but not until 1594 did he announce
his participation in the views of Schwenkfeld. He gives the
following brief account of his own career :10

"D. S. 1st geboren Anno 1550. Er ist Catholisch, aber bald Anno
1558 In der Caluinischen Schul gangen. Auch zu der Lutherischen
predig mit gangen, Den Teiiffern auch zugehort. Ist Anno 1594 zu
erkantnusz der Warheit kommen, vnd hat Ao. 1624. disz vffge-
schrieben seines alters 74. noch starck, frisch, vnd gesund, als lang
der Herre sein Christus wil. bisz 1628. 1629. Gottlob. 1630. 1631."

His death occurred in 1631.

The earliest of Sudermann's poems which still exist were
written in 1568. His poetic activity during the period 1572-1580,
was limited for the most part to the production of motto-hymns
and acrostic poems, the latter in praise of his patrons of noble

'Cf. Corpus Schzvcnckfcldianorum, I, 5if.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 45

birth. Beginning with the year 1584, he seems to have been
occupied for some years chiefly with the publishing of Schwenk-
feld's works. Neither the editor's name nor the place of publi-
cation, Strassburg, appears in any of these editions. It will be
remembered that the Sixteenth Century was the great age of
the German "master-singers" and their "Singschulen," and for
a few years (1589-91 ) Sudermann practiced the Meistergesang —
the writing of lyric poetry according to the strict rules of the
guild of the Meistersanger. Many of his poems of this period
are included in his manuscript collections of later years, and are
usually indicated by the marginal note : "Disz ist ein Meister-
gesang." That Sudermann joined the "master-singers" of
Strassburg, or that he was acquainted with his contemporary
Johann Fischart can not be said with certainty. However,
Fischart was a staunch Protestant and began his literary career
by writing satires on Catholicism. Of these, the most import-
ant, Dcr Bincnkorb (1579) and Das Jcsttitenhiitleiii (1580),
were issues of the printing-press of Jobin, Fischart's brother-in-
law, in Strassburg, the press which soon after printed some of
the Schwenkfeld literature published by Sudermann.

In his next period, 1594 ca. — 1610, we find Sudermann
wholly absorbed in his study of the mystics. In these years his
unresting enterprise is applied in part to the collecting of old
and rare manuscripts of the writings of such Christian teachers as
Bernhard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Bonaventura (1212-74),
Meister Eckhart (ca. 1260-1327), Heinrich Sense, or Suso
(1295-1366), Johann Tauler (ca. 1300-61 )," Johann Geiler of
Kaisersberg (1445-1510), Heinrich Vigilis of Weissenburg
(1489) and numerous other exponents of the belief in the direct-
ness of the soul's communion with God. From these writings
he made selections of the choicest passages, which he compiled
and added to his library. A number of the manuscripts col-
lected he himself transcribed with the greatest care. Indeed, it
may safely be said that the recognition which is due Daniel

u Cf. Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum, I, 389.

46 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Sudermann for having collected, transcribed and preserved this
literature has hitherto not been acknowledged. His hymns both
of this period and later years reflect much of the sentiment and
the imagery of these Christian writers, of whom Tauler was for
Sudermann the master-teacher and close companion.

The last two decades of his life, like the earlier periods,
Sudermann spent chiefly in literary employment. Until about
1628, he lived at the Bruderhof. He was never married, always
enjoyed good health, and even at the age of 80 years he gov-
erned an active and a vigorous pen. He was a voluminous
transcriber of Schwenkfelder literature, and in this role he was
designedly supplying a real want of his friends. These tran-
scripts are frequently inscribed thus :

"Disz Buch soil niemands eigen sein,
Schwenckfelds Discipeln ich schenks insgemein."

In this period he completed the fair-copy of his hymns con-
tained in collections S Ilia, S Illb and S IIIc of the list given
below. All of the important collections of hymns by Suder-
mann which appeared in print, were published in the years 1618-
1628. As might be conjectured, a number of the hymns written
in this decade reflect the fierce religious strife of the calamitous
Thirty Years' War.

Sudermann was the author of 2500 hymns and other relig-
ious poems, of which 435 have appeared in print. Wackernagel
alone prints 211 of Sudermann's hymns in full. Schneider12
gives a list of Sudermann's writings amounting to twenty-seven
numbers, not including his theological treatises. If now we re-
mind ourselves that for more than a score of years Sudermann's
duties as Hofmeister claimed the major portion of his time, that
he directed the publication of many of Schwenkfeld's works,
that during his curacy at the Bruderhof he accumulated a col-
lection of old manuscripts which has ever since been an object
of admiration to bibliophiles, copied five large volumes of hymns,

12 Cf. A. F. H. Schneider, loco citato, pp. 12ft.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 47

edited twenty publications of writings by himself and by Tauler,
and that by forty years of toil as transcriber he has preserved
to us a vast quantity of Schwenkfelder literature as well as much
of our information concerning Schwenkfeld and his adherents,
we shall be able to approximate a just conception of the amazing
activity of this resourceful and devoted champion of Caspar von
Schwenkfeld.

The complete list of collections of hymns written by Suder-
mann follows. Of the published collections, the place of publi-
cation is given if known. The Roman numeral given after the
title refers to our Descriptive Bibliography.

S 1. Geistliche Lieder. Manuscript in folio. 1587. v.

S 11. Geistliche Lieder. Manuscript in folio. 1597. viii.

S in a. Gsangbucli Newer geistlicher Lieder. I. Theil. Manu-
script in quarto. 1615. ix.

Smb. Gsangbucli Newer geistlicher Lieder. II. Theil. Manu-
script in quarto. 161 5. x.

Sine. Gsangbucli Neiver geistlicher Lieder. III. Theil. Manu-
script in quarto. 1615. xi.

S iv. Von dcr Tochter Sion. Strassburg. 1618. xii.

S v. Ein gitte Lehr. Strassburg. 1619. xiii.

S vi. Five leaves in folio, xiv.

S vii a. Schone ausserlescne Figurcn und hohe Leliren. Strass-
burg. 1620. xv.

S vii b. Schone ausserlescne Sinreiche Figurcn. Strassburg.
1620. xvi.

S vii c. Schone auszerlesenc Sinreiche Figurcn. Strassburg. 1625
(circa), xxi.

S vii d. xxxxx. Schbner auszerlesener Sinreicher Figurcn. 1628.
xxiii.

S viii. Ein Schone Lehr, von den sieben Graden, oder Staff ein
der volkommenen Liebe. Strassburg. 1622. xvii.

S ix. Twelve Leaves in folio, xviii.

S x. Hohe geistreiche Lehren, und Erkldrungen. 1622. xix.

S xi. Sixteen Pages in folio, xx.

S xii. Etliche Hohe geistliche Gesdnge. Strassburg. 1626. xxii.

48 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

As a hymn-writer, he was honored by his contemporaries
and is ranked high by modern writers on hymnology. Gram-
matically, his poetry is not infrequently defective, but it will be
remembered that his linguistic traditions were Low German.
Schneider says: "Sudermann always chose good models, in
Dutch, French and Latin as well as in German. Schwenkfeld's
flow of language, Reissner's brevity and Tauler's fervour are
reflected in his writings." Wackernagel's valuation of Suder-
mann and his hymns runs thus, in English translation : "He
was a true Christian, his poems are simply like so many spon-
taneous devotions, in which his soul was submerged as he studied
the Holy Scriptures, the church fathers, the mystics and the
Reformers; and it seems as though in the fifty years of his
hymn-writing he had only godly thoughts. I have spent much
time in the study of this author; indeed, I have a fondness for
him, because his hymns are so genuine and at the same time so
pertinent." The following hymn on the deception of temporal
joy, written in 1584, we have chosen to illustrate both the godli-
ness and the lyric fire of this' prince of Schwenkfelder hymn-
writers :

"VON DER FALSCHEN BETRUEGLICHEN WELTFREUDE.

"O blinde Welt, wie hast du mich gestoret

Von Jugend vff vnd noch in diese Zeit,

O arge Welt, wie hastu mich bethoret

Vnd abgebracht von rechter Bahn so weit !

O falsche Welt,

Wollust vnd Gelt,

Wee dem ewig, der auff dich belt.

"O kurtze freiid, o langwirige schmertzen,
O Ewigkeit, wie machst mir ein getrang,
Wan ich ernstlich bedenck von gantzem hertzen,
Nach dieser Zeit dasz du wehrest so lang.
O falsche Welt, etc.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 49

"O liechteschein, welchs finsternisz gebehret,
Dein Ehre fiihrt zu spott vnd ewger scliand,
0 kurtze Rhu, so lang die Seel beschweret,
O Eygen Will, hemach gfangiiisz vnd band ;
O falsche Welt, etc.

"Fahr hin o Welt, dir will ich vrlaub geben,

Fahr hin o Welt, esz nmsz geschieden sein,

Fahr hin o Welt, mit dir mag ich nit leben,

Fahr hin o Welt, du brechst mich sunst in pein.

Fahr hin o Welt,

Wollust vnd Gelt,

Wee dem Zuletst, der auff dich helt."

Martin John, Jr., was born in Glatz, 1624. This was six
years after the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War and five
years before the appearance in Germany of Gustavus Adolphus,
king of Sweden, as the defender of the leaderless Protestants.
The story of the early life of Martin John, the younger, reflects
the privation and suffering of this final, protracted conflict be-
tween Protestantism and Catholicism. For three generations
this Schwenkfelder family was prominent in the struggle of the
sect in Silesia for existence.

In 1583, the elder Martin John, grandfather of the subject
of this sketch, adopted the faith of Schwenkfeld, and in 1584
bought property in Harpersdorf and settled there. Soon after,
he began to work as a lay evangelist, holding public services at
his own house. Persecution followed, and he and his associates
became the victims of violence and incivility. His household
furniture was destroyed, his fields laid waste and he himself
committed to prison at Liegnitz. After a year's confinement
here, where the most unsanitary conditions prevailed, with con-
sequent disease and death among the prisoners, he was removed
to the tower of an old castle on the Grotzberg. Here in 1594,
after eight years of detention he died, having steadfastly refused
to exchange his liberty of conscience for personal freedom. Nu-
merous sermons and tractates penned during his imprisonment

50 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

were brought to America by the Schwenkfelder immigrants in

1734-

The father of our hymn-writer was George John, who with
his family for a time escaped the hardships of the war. In 1627,
however, a detachment of Imperial troops was quartered in his
house with instructions to resort to torture, if necessary, in order
to compel the family to embrace the Catholic faith. A guard was
placed before each door of the house to prevent flight or rescue.
But George John had made provision for a possible exigency of
this kind. Much to their surprise, and contrary to their accus-
tomed treatment the soldiers were invited to enjoy a substan-
tial repast. The temptation proved too great for their vigilance,
and a day of festivity was proclaimed. Picture their satisfac-
tion when the feast already in progress is augmented by an
abundance of the choicest wine. The ruse of the host is wholly-
successful. First a general carousing and tippling, and by and
by soldiers and watch are soundly intoxicated and fast asleep.
Under cover of the night, George. John now escapes, taking with
him his wife and two children and a sister. The elder child, a
daughter, was at this time eight years of age and little Martin
in his fourth year. All his life he retained the memory of this
flight.

When we next hear of Martin John, Jr., he is some thirty
years of age and a physician in the town of Hockenau, Princi-
pality of Jauer, Silesia. The war had been terminated by the
Treaty of Westphalia (1648); but this treaty, like the Peace of
Augsburg (1555), granted to every ruling prince the right to en-
force his religion upon his subjects, and to banish all who refused
to conform. In a word, the Schwenkf elders had again been out-
lawed, and with the year 1650-51 began the period of oppression
which the Schwenkfelders of that time and succeeding genera-
tions called "the great persecution."13 Martin John, Jr., is the

"For an account of the persecutions which the Schwenkfelders suffered
after the Peace of Augsburg and again after the close of the Thirty Years'
War, vide "The Schwenkfelders," by Hon. C. Heydrick, in the Genealogical
Record of the Schwenkfelders.

EARLY SCIIWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS

author of an account of Schwenkfeld, his tenets and the history
of the reformation under Schwenkfeld up to the second half of
the Seventeenth Century. Several copies of this chronicle are
extant in manuscript in America. It includes an account of the
measures adopted by the magistracies of Liegnitz and Jauer at
the instigation of the Lutheran clergy, for the coercion of the
Schwenkfelders. The chronicler records with great particular-
ity the reproach and persecution suffered by his contemporaries
George Heydrich, the hymn-writer, and Balthaser Jakkel, both
of whom publicly opposed the baptism of the children of
Schwenkfelder parents. Heydrich was deprived of his property
in Harpersdorf, was twice made to endure extreme hunger and
twice received a cudgeling. He was three times imprisoned at
Liegnitz. During his final imprisonment (1654-1656) he con-
tracted an illness of which he died shortly after his release.
Martin John, the subject of this sketch, also passed about nine
months in prison at this time at Jauer, for having conducted
religious services.

Although the chronicle in question furnishes many facts of
the life of Martin John, Jr., it does not contain a connected nar-
rative of his career. However, from this and other sources it
appears that he was a man of considerable learning and an ardent
believer in Schwenkfeld's conception of Christian living. As a
chronicler, he rendered significant service; and he always la-
mented the fact that through the persecution of the preceding
century as well as by reason of the long war, a great amount
of historical matter and printed literature had been lost and de-
stroyed. He died in 1707 at the advanced age of 83 years.
Soon after, and while the hymn-collection of Caspar Weiss was
being compiled, his hymns came to light and forty were immedi-
ately admitted to the collection. All the editions of the Schwenk-
felder hymn-book contain hymns by Martin John. The Saur
edition contains thirty. As far as we know there has not been
found a collection of his hymns that purports to be complete;
and hence a full account of his activity as a hymn-writer must
be deferred until additional information concerning him has been

52 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

disclosed. There exists a manuscript of ninety-seven hymns by
Martin John, of which about one-third are translations of Latin
hymns, chiefly by Aurelius Prudentius.14 Of the hymns of this
collection, a number are metrical versions of Psalms. It is note-
worthy that this Schwenkfelder physician, historian and hymn-
writer, was also the author of a printed work on bee-culture.
As far as we know, there is but a single copy of this imprint ex-
tant in America.15

We give here a poem of Schwenkfelder authorship printed
on a broadside in 1580. The place of publication is not known.16

MADRIGAL.

"Es ist mir allzeit lieb,

Wann gute Freunde zu mir kommen ;

Dann, weil ich mir schon langstens vorgenommen,

Nicht viel mehr aus zu gehen,

So kan man leicht verstchn,

Dasz mir der Zuspruch lieber Leute

So angenehm als niitzlich sey ;

Doch, disz erinnere ich dabey,

Dasz, weil ich sehr erpicht aufs angenehme Heute

Mir der am liebsten sey, der wohl bey sich erwagt,

Wie, offt ein guter Frennd dem andern

Viel edle Zeit vertragt:

Drum wer nichts Nothigs mehr zu sagen weisz,

Beliebe nur bald wiederum zu wandern ;

Dan wer zum Zeit-Vertrieb, mit ausgekehrten Sinneii

Von seinem Nechsten schlecht, ohn' Zweck zur Bessrung spricht,

Und von sich selbst zum Lob, und sonst von eitlen Dingen

Der hat die Zeit nur iibel angewendt;

Wan ich ilm aber bleiben heisz,

So trau er mir, es sey kein Compliment."

14 This manuscript is in the possession of Mr. Daniel M. Anders, Fairview
Village, Pa., who kindly permitted the writer to examine it for this work.
Mrs. Susanna Krauss Heebner, Worcester, Pa., is the possessor of a manu-
script of which a part consists of hymns by Martin John.

15 In the possession of William H. Anders, Kulpsville, Pa.

"A copy of this broadside is in the possession of Hon. S. W. Penny-
packer, Former Governor of Pennsylvania, who kindly allowed the present
writer to reprint the "madrigal" here.

EARLY SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 53

Schwenkfeld himself seems to have written but little verse.
Of course he recognized the irresistible power of congregational
singing as an agency in the establishment of the Reformation
cause, and was looking on with the warmest approval as all
Germany, awakened by the song of "the nightingale of Witten-
berg" began to sing itself into Protestantism. It was he who, in
1534, requested Katharina Zell to publish a new edition of the
first German hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren.17 True, it
is possible that some hymns of his may have been suppressed
along with other literature from his pen. However, a few treas-
ured verses of his composition have been preserved. We give
here three pairs of rhymed couplets by Schwenkfeld. The first
appears in all the editions of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book, on
the reverse of the title-page. The other two strophes appear on
a broadside published by Daniel Sudermann. This broadside
contains a contemporary portrait of Schwenkfeld, of the year
1556. The verses in question appear just below the portrait.
They are a metrical amplification of Schwenkfeld's motto : "Nil
triste Christo recepto." On the same broadside are twenty-eight
lines of verse written, according to Schneider,18 by Sudermann.
They begin: "Herr Caspar Schwenckfelds leib und G'stalt."19
Following are the strophes by Schwenkfeld:

"Wenn singt im Hertzen Gottes Geist,
In Christo Gott wird recht gepreiszt ;
Wenn aber singt der fleischlich Christ,
Solch Lob fiir Gott ein Greuel ist.

Wer Iesum christv vor im hat

der rhvet sanfte frve vnd spat

er ist getrost in aller nott

und ob er sclion hie steckt im chott

" Cf. A. F. H. Schneider, loco citato, p. 21.
18 Cf. A. F. H. Schneider, loco citato, p. 12.

" Cf. Erl'duterung fiir Caspar Schwenckfeld. Second edition, facing
frontispiece.

54 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Das er avch wird der wellte spot
so schaidet er doch nit von got
der in behvet vor hell und todt
vnd speist in mit seim himel brott.

The following hymn entitled "Of the Love of Christ," be-
cause of its associations, must always retain — at least for
Schwenkfelders — a peculiar charm. It was written in Ulm on
the occasion of the approaching death of Schwenkfeld. In the
earliest Schwenkfelder collections which contain it, Agathe
Streicher is named as the writer of the hymn. It will be ob-
served, however, that the fourth and sixth lines of the third
strophe seem to indicate that it was not written by a woman,
and for this and other reasons the question has been raised by
Wackernagel : "May it have been written by Schwenkfeld him-
self?" The hymn follows:20

"VON DER LIEB CHRISTJ.

"Wach auf, mein seel,
mit Psalmen, Beeten, singen,
hab Lieb ob alien Dingen
den waren hochsten Gott,
Jhesum, sein Lieben Sohne.
regierend jn dem Trone
in gleicher macht vnnd Ehr,
fiir mich am Creuz gestorben.

2. "Jhesu, mein Gott,
gib dich mir zuerkennen :
vva jch dich nu hor nennen
sich mein gemiit erf rent.
Du kennst dein Creature,
das jch bin von Nature
durch Satanns List vnnd trug
in siinden ganz verdorben.

1 Reprinted from Wackernagel, Vol. V.

EARLY SCIIWENKFELDER HYMN-WRITERS 55

3. "Herr JHESU Christ,
lasz dir es gehn zu herczen

den Jamer vnnd den schmerczen,

darjnn jch gfangner bin,

Von meiner siinden wegen,

darjn jch armer glegen

inn Hell, jn Angst vnnd tod,

du allein kanst Erlosen.

4. "Da jst kein Rast

noch ru zu keiner stunde,
bisz Du mich machst gesunde
an gewissen, hercz vnnd seel :
Fiier ausz von disem Laide,
das jch von Dir nit schaide,
das jch Dir volge nach
vnnd mit gedult verharre.

5. "Ich opfer mich

dir, meinem Gott vnnd Herren,
jch bitt Dich, wellest niehren
mein glaub, hoffnung vnd Lieb,
Das jch bej dir mog bleiben,
das mich nicht kiind abtreibeu
Verfolgung, Angst vnnd tod,
fiier mich jus Ewig Leben."

CHAPTER IV.
Hymns Used by the Schwenkfelders Before 1762.

In our account of the hymns sung by the Schwenkfelders
prior to the appearance of the Saur edition, we are concerned
chiefly with the American period. Among the followers of
Schwenkfeld there have always been hymn-lovers, who have
sought to preserve the hymns written by Schwenkfelders. Thus,
in 1537, Valentin Ickelsamer1 published at his own expense a
letter of consolation received from Schwenkfeld during a serious
illness, and with the letter Reissner's hymn : "In dich hab ich
gehoffet, Herr." Thus about the middle of the century, Reissner
wrote his Teglichs Gesangbuch, in which he preserved hundreds
of the hymns of the earliest Schwenkfelder writers. Thus half
a century later, Sudermann set forward the same work. Thus
in the Seventeenth Century the hymns of Sudermann, Oelsner,
Anna Hoyer, Heydrich and Martin John, Jr., were saved; and
in the next century, despite the menace of persecution in Europe
and the hardship of pioneer-life in America, Caspar Weiss,
George Weiss, Balthaser Hoffmann, Christopher Kriebel, Hans
Christoph Hiibner, Christopher Hoffmann, and Christopher
Schultz all produced large transcripts of Schwenkfelder hymns.

These hymns, excepting such as were not suitably arranged
to be sung, were preserved for use. To be sure, the early
Schwenkfelders could not. like those who settled in America, as
a sect establish churches, adopt an order of worship and prepare
a hymn-book for general use. In these matters each community
of Schwenkfelders was usually independent of all others, be-
cause of the state measures decreed to prevent religious confer-
ences and public worship among them. In the Sixteenth Century,
followers of Schwenkfeld were found, not only in Silesia, but
in many parts of Germany and in Moravia, Switzerland and
Holland. Strassburg, Augsburg and Ulm were leading centres.

1 Cf. Schneider, loco citato, p. 7.
(56)

HYMNS USED BEFORE 1 762 57

In the Royal Library, Berlin, is a manuscript containing hymns
sung by the Schwenkf elders in Ulm, ca. 1 560-1 580. In 1583
this congregation was dispersed, some settling in Soeflingen and
others in Justingen. In their affliction they had a hymn-book
printed for their own use and consolation:2 "G. M. D.3 Ein
Christlich Psalter-Gebett der Betrengten Kirchen Gottes zn Trost
gestellet und auss den CL. Psalmen Dauids susamengezogen.
Ulm, Johann Anton Ulhart, MDLXXXV."

In America there was from the first a gradual increase in
the practice of using hymns collected by Schwenkf elders. These
collections, as noted, included the best hymns of Schwenkfelder
authorship. In numbers XXV. and XXVI. of our Descriptive
Bibliography, which were written in Saxony and brought to
America in 1734, and which together comprise the earliest tran-
scription of the collection of George Weiss, there are unmistak-
able evidences that this manuscript furnished many of the hymns
sung in their public worship. Again, soon after the death of
George Weiss (1740), and during the ministry of Balthaser
Hoffmann, a number of smaller manuscript hymn-books ar-
ranged for church use and based on the Weiss hymn-book ap-
peared. The largest of these is extant in two volumes, quarto.
It was completed in 1747 and is the work of Christopher Kriebel,
later the catechist of the Schwenkfelders. Indeed, this activity
began in the first years following the landing of the Schwenk-
felders. There is preserved a hymn-book of this kind inscribed :
"Written for Rosina Yeakel. Anno 1735." It contains hymns
for the Sundays and holy-days and for some of the Saints' Days,
beginning with the first Sunday of Advent. A careful compar-
ison has shown that the collection in question is an abridgment
of the Weiss hymn-book. It is supplied with an index of first
lines, and throughout bears manifest marks of having rendered
service.4 This is true of most of these hymn-books, which shed

'Cf. Schneider, loco citato, p. 8f. Koch, II, 421L

' Votum: "Gott mit dir": "God be with you."

' In the possession of Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D. D., LL. D., Franklin and

5§ SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

much light upon a portion of the chronicle recorded for the year
1759 in the Historischc Anmerkungen5 by Rev. Christopher
Schultz. The passage runs thus : "For years we have had under
consideration the question of publishing a hymn-book for our
own use, believing that it would prove a welcome work, because
the hymns which we are using — excepting those which chance
tc be preserved by transcription and compilation — have a scat-
tered existence."

We do not wish to convey the idea that the Schwenkfelders
have at no time used printed hymn-books other than those in-
tended for the sect. The Silesian Schwenkfelders knew and
used all the editions of the German hymn-book of the Bohemian
Brethren (Moravians), admitting possibly a single exception.
For a period of about thirty years beginning 1535, this hymn-
book was not generally in favor among Schwenkfelders, because
of a change in Schwenkfeld's attitude to this religious body.
But after the appearance of the edition of 1566 and until the
emigration from Silesia (1726) the Schwenkfelders of the prin-
cipalities of Liegnitz and Jauer continued to use these hymns.
A number of copies of this hymn-book were brought to America
by the Schwenkfelder immigrants. Twelve of these copies have
come under the observation of the present writer. Some of the
copies, which were rebound when still in use, were supplied
with blank leaves on which were added in manuscript the hymns
used by the sect but not contained in the Bohemian hymn-
book.6 This fact is a striking corroboration of our thesis, that
the Schwenkfelders probably at no time used only the hymns of
the Bohemian Brethren.

We are not disposed, however, to depreciate the significance

Marshall College, Lancaster. Pa., who kindly allowed the present writer to
compare this manuscript with its original. The book seems to have been
written by Rev. George Weiss.

' Published by Prof. M. D. Learned, Ph. D., L. H. D., in Americana
Germanica, Vol. II, No. 1.

'The most interesting copy of this description known to the writer is the
copy which was owned and used by David Seibt. It is in the possession of
Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, Former Governor of Pennsylvania.

HYMNS USED BEFORE 1 762 59

of the splendid service which Bohemian hymnody performed for
Schwenkfeldianism. Indeed, of the bequest left to Christendom
by the Bohemian hymn-writers, most of the Protestant churches
of Germany and Great Britain have in some measure been bene-
ficiaries. The German hymn-book of the followers of John
Huss was a manual of devotions in hundreds of Schwenkfelder
families during the weary years of unyielding persecution. The
copies brought to America include all the editions issued from
Schwenkfeld's death (1561) to the end of the Seventeenth
Century. According to a Schwenkfelder chronicle written in
Silesia in the Seventeenth Century by Hans Seibt, and supple-
mented and extended in America, Melchior Dehnst, a pious
Schwenkfelder writer and transcriber was occupied (1660 ca. )
with the revision of a number of hymns in the Bohemian hymnal
— his aim being to adapt them to Schwenkfeld's Confession of
Faith. Balthaser Hoffmann also records, in a document which
we shall quote in our next chapter, that this hymn-book was
still in common use among the Schwenkfelders at the opening of
the Eighteenth Century. Indeed, in the matter of arrangement,
the hymn-books of the Schwenkfelders printed in America all
retain the stamp of the quarto editions of the Bohemian hymnal.
We list here the various editions of the German hymn-book
of the Bohemian Brethren since it served as an important source
for the Schwenkfelder collections discussed in the remaining
chapters of this work :

1531. Ein New Gcseng buchlen. Jungen Buntzel durch Geor-
gen Wylmschwerer. 1531. 6to. Was the largest collection of Ger-
man church hymns yet published. Contained 162 hymns, of which
143 were translations from the Bohemian, by Michael Weiss (e).
Other editions: Ulm, 1538, and Ulm, 1539 (two editions').

1544. Ein Gesangbuch dcr Briider in Behemen und Merherrn.
Niirnberg, 1544. 8vo. Contained 181 hymns: 149 hymns of Michael
Weiss and 32 hymns added by Johann Horn. Of these, 26 had been
translated into German by Horn, who edited this hymn book.

1566. Kirchengeseng. First quarto edition of Bohemian hymn
book (German). Contained 343 hymns. Of the hymns of the edition

60 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

of 1544, only 15 are omitted. This edition has an appendix with 106
hymns by Lutheran authors.

1580. Kirchengesang. The preceding edition (1566) repub-
lished without alteration. Niirnberg, 1580.

1606. Kirclicngcscingc. The edition of 1566 revised and en-
larged. Martin Polycarp was the editor. Published in Moravia.

1639. Kirchens'dnge. A new edition. Published at Lissa,
Poland. Contained 360 hymns written by Bohemian Brethren. Of
these, 141 are hymns of Michael Weisse. This edition contains a
biographical list "of those (14) persons who translated the Bohemian
hymns into German verse". This is the only edition in this series
which furnishes biographical information concerning these hymn
writers. We shall have occasion to mention this list again, in our
discussion of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book of 1762.

1661. Another edition of the German hymn-book of the Bo-
hemian Brethren was published at Amsterdam in 1661. The editor
was the noted educational reformer John Amos Comenius.7

7 Cf. Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, p. 156.

CHAPTER V.

Caspar Weiss: The Originator of the Schwenkfelder

Hymn-Book.

We have already seen that the first Schwenkfelder hymn-
book printed in America was not an isolated production but a
member of a series of hymn-books, of which the earlier numbers
remained in manuscript. The collection of hymns which stands
at the head of this series bears the date of 1709. It was made
by Caspar Weiss, a devout Schwenkfelder, who lived in the
town of Harpersdorf, Principality of Liegnitz, Silesia. Our
knowledge of this early Schwenkfelder hymn-collator, must un-
fortunately remain limited. The year of his birth is not known.
His death occurred in Harpersdorf in 17 12, a few years before
the period of the strenuous though fruitless effort of the Jesuit
mission in Silesia to stamp out the Schwenkfelders as a sect.
For the following conclusions, however, we have ample docu-
mentary testimony : First, that Caspar Weiss was an ardent de-
votee of the faith of the great Reformer for whom he was
named; and, second, that by reason of his familiarity with the
various creeds represented in Protestantism at the opening of the
Eighteenth Century, he was admirably qualified for the work
of compiling the hymn-collection which, in a direct line of de-
velopment, became the original ancestor of the first printed hymn-
book of the Schwenkfelders in America, three generations later.
He possessed the additional qualifications of being talented
musically, and of having a wide familiarity with the church
hymn. He knew the Latin hymns of St. Augustine, St. Am-
brosius, St. Hieronymus and others of the church fathers, the
hymns of Luther, the earliest German hymn-books of the Bohe-
mian Brethren or Moravians (called by Weiss the Picards),
the hymns of the Schwenkfelder hymn-writers of the Sixteenth
and Seventeenth Centuries, and the well-known N iimbergisches
Gesang-Buch of 1690.

(61)

62 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

The following brief account of Caspar Weiss is taken from
the Vorrede und Bericht prefacing the manuscript volume of the
year 1758:

"Dieser Caspar Weiss ist gebiirtig gewesen von Deutmannsdorff,
im Furstenthum Jauer in Schlesien, sehr schlechter ■ und armer An-
kunfft; hat das Leinweber-Handwerck gelernet; und sich in Har-
persdorff (im Furstenthum Liegnitz) mit Anna Andersen, George
Anders dess Aeltern, Tochter, vertrauet; und also in Harpersdorff
in einem schlechten l Haiisslein gewohnet ; Und hat also seine gantze
Lebens-Zeit in Armuth zugebracht. Gott hat ihm Zwey Sohne und
eine Tochter bescheret. Der jiingste Sohn aber, und die Tochter
sind in ihrer Jugend gestorben. Der alteste Sohn aber, mit Namen
George, ist eben der, so 2 hernach an diesem Gesangbuche 3 gear-
beitet, und es vermehret hat."

Translation :

"The above mentioned Caspar Weiss was born at Deutmanns-
dorf, Principality of Jauer, Silesia, of very plain and poor parents.
He was a linen weaver by trade, and plighted his troth to Anna
Anders, daughter of George Anders, the elder, of Harpersdorf,
Principality of Liegnitz, and lived in Harpersdorf in a modest little
home. And thus he passed his entire life in poverty. God gave him
two sons and a daughter. The second son, however, and the daugh-
ter died young. The elder son, George by name, it was who later
revised and enlarged this hymn-book."

In testimony of the fact that Weiss was recognized as a man
of intelligence and influence, and that he bore his part in the
persecution, to which in the closing years of his life the Schwenk-
felders of Liegnitz in particular were subjected, we cite a brief
excerpt from the so-called Erlauterung4 of the Schwenkfelders.
Tottering with age, the venerable Weiss was compelled to stand
for six long hours before the notorious Herr Pastor Johann

1 For New High German "schlichter" and "schlichten" : plain, simple.
2 1. e., "welcher."
' The collection of 1709.

'Erlauterung fur Caspar Schwenckfeld, und die Zugethanen seiner Lehre.
Second edition, Sumnytaun, 1830, p. 59.

ORIGIN OF SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK 63

Samuel Neander, in the latter's study, to give an account of his
faith. The passage follows :

"Gemekleter Neander bat gedachten Caspar Weiss, in seiner
Studier-Stube ganzer sechs Stunden vor sicb stehen gehabt, obne ibn
niedersitzen zu lassen, ihn urn seinen Glauben zu examinieren ; wel-
ches Stehen clem alten Mann fast nicht auszuhalten gewesen, so wil-
lig und bereit er sonst zura Bekenntniss war. Von Seiten des Pa-
storis, mag ein Verstandiger seine eigenen Gedanken hievon haben,
was es fur ein Gemuth anzeige."

Translation :

"For six full hours, the afore-mentioned Neander kept said
Caspar Weiss standing before him in his study without permitting
bim to sit down, in order to question him concerning his faith. This
standing the aged man was scarcely able to endure, though he was
quite willing and prepared to make his confession. A rational per-
son will draw his own inference of the disposition indicated hereby
on the part of the said Pastor."

For the information we possess concerning the origin of
the hymn-collection of Caspar Weiss, we are indebted to the pen
of Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann. The latter also recorded, in a his-
torical manuscript still extant, an account of the sources of the
collection, as well as a statement of the method pursued by Weiss
in arranging and editing the individual hymns. We quote Hoff-
mann in full, inasmuch as he both was an intimate of the Weiss
family and, as we have already noted, figured prominently in the
activity which this monograph purposes to set forth :

"Und da ist denn zu wissen, dass Caspar Weiss, sein 5 Vater,
den An fang dazuB gemacbet; und ist er dazu verursachet worden,
durch einen alten einfaltigen Schwenkf elder seiner Zeit, mit Nahmen
Mertin Mentzel (war des alten Melchior Mentzels 6 Vater). Der
hat einmahl zum Caspar Weiss gesagt: Du kontest wohl das Ge-

rtie reference is to the collection of George Weiss, begun 1726.

6 One of the Schwenkfelder immigrants of the year 1734. Cf. Genealogi-
cal Record, page xxx.

64 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

sang-Buch (war das gedrukkte Gesangbuch7, wi es noch im grossen
Format ist) etwas ordnen, wi sich di Gesange zu den Evangelien
fiagten (denn es war alles in Unordnung und Einfalt), dass man si
ein wenig nach Ordnung singen konte: Denn du hattest Verstand
und Wissenschaft dazu. Weil denn 8 Caspar willig war den Leuten
zu dinen, und ihm aucli urn Ubung in Lehre und Bekantniiss zu
tlum war, hat er solches in Bedenken genommen. Nun hatte er ihm °
di Psalm-Lider 10 schreiben lassen,11 samt vilen andern Lidern, welche
er gesammlet ; auch di so genanten Romischen Lider 12, kamen auch
zur selben Zeit Mert. Johns Lider 13 (nach seinem Tode) an Tag.
Ober das I4 setzte George Weiss, sein Sohn (auff den Willen des
Vaters) di Evangeliums Texte 16 in Reime. Und also ordnete Cas-
par Weiss ein Gesang-Buch zusammen, nach dem Jahr-Gang (wel-
ches di Ordnung ist, wi si von mir abgeschriben 1709, und noch zu
sehen ist) und iibergab und dedicirte solches gleichsam seinen Kin-
dern, mit der Vorrede oder Zuschrifft, und hat ihnen solches wollen
nachlassen."

Translation :

"And it may therefore be made known that Caspar Weiss, his
father, began the work. And he was encouraged to do it by a plain,
old Schwenkfelder of his time, whose name was Martin Mentzel
(old Melchior Mentzel's father) At one time he said to Caspar
Weiss: "You, of course, could rearrange our hymn book (referring
to the large, printed hymn book, which we still have), in such a way
that the hymns would accord with the gospel lessons and could be

' The hymn-book of the Moravians. One of the quarto editions which we
have listed in our preceding chapter.

8 The manuscript has "den."

' For the reflexive pronoun "sich."

10 Metrical versions of the Hebrew Psalms. Compare numbers vi, xxx
and xxxiii of our Descriptive Bibliography.

" For "abschreiben lassen."

"The hymns of Aurelius Prudentius. Written (circa) 400 A. D. in
Latin. The German translation of these hymns is the work of Adam Reissner.
A brief account of the life of Prudentius is given below.

13 Martin John, der Jungere (1624-1707).

" For "Ueberdies."

"Metrical versions of the "gospel-lessons," called usually: Lieder iiber
die Evangelia. Several copies of these hymns are extant in manuscript.

ORIGIN OF SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK 65

sung to some extent in order. You would have the required intelli-
gence and information." And since Caspar was ready to serve his
people, and had occasion to do something for practice in Christian
doctrine and in confession, he considered the matter. Accordingly
he had the Psalm-hymns copied, together with many other hymns
which he collected, and the so-called 'Roman hymns.' At that very
time, the hymns of Martin John came to light, being shortly after
his death. In addition, George Weiss, his son (at the request of
his father) composed hymns on the Gospel Lessons. And thus did
Caspar Weiss compile a hymn book, in accordance with the church
year (the collection which 1 1C copied, 1709, and which still exists),
and committed it, so to say, to the care of his children and in the
preface dedicated it to them, desiring them to regard it as a bequest."

The statement here given of the sources from which Weiss
drew, although both instructive and trustworthy, needs to be
supplemented. According to the account of the compilation given
by the author himself, the hymns of Aurelius Prudentius (in
their German dress) were made the foundation of the collection.
To these were added a number of hymns representing the
Schwenkfelder muse — the following Schwenkfelder hymn-writers
having been preferred: Adam Reissner (1496-1575 ca. ), Johann
Raimund Weckher (wrote fa. 1540-1570), Daniel Sudermann
(1550-1631), George Frell (wrote ca. 15751!.), Antonius Oels-
ner (wrote ca. 1590!!.), George Heydrich (died 1657 ca.), and
Martin John, Jr. (1 624-1 707).

Another important source of the collection was the hymn-
book of the "Bohemian Brethren" (Moravians). The originator
of the German hymn-book of the Moravians was Michael Weiss
(or Weisse), who translated about 150 hymns into German from
the Bohemian, and issued the first edition of these hymns at
Buntzel, 1531 . Of this hymnal there were three later editions,
all published at Ulm. Johann Horn, a Moravian, who wrote
many hymns, both in Bohemian and in German, issued at Niirn-
berg (1544) a revised edition of the hymns of Michael Weiss,

" Balthaser Hoffmann.

66 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

enlarged by the addition of a number of hymns of his own au-
thorship. The other early German hymn-books of the Moravians
were the editions of 1566, 1606, 1639 and 1661, together with
their reprints. With all these Caspar Weiss was thoroughly
familiar; for he spared no zeal in scrutinizing the text of each
hymn before admitting it to his collection, that the finished
work might contain nothing that was not in accord with Holy
Writ. The variant readings of the successive editions were care-
fully collated and compared, preference being consistently given
to the text in its original form, except where the doctrine failed
to be plainly non-sectarian. The Moravian hymn-book referred
to in the citation given below, was the edition of 1639. 17

Still another source of the collection of Caspar Weiss was
the hymn-book referred to below as das grossc Nitnibcrgische
Gesang-Bitch.18 This source contributed the Lutheran hymns
of the collection, together with some hymns of Reformed author-
ship. And finally, there were incorporated into the collection
the metrical versions of the "gospel-lessons" for the church year,
written expressly for this compilation by George Weiss, the son,
at that time but 22 years of age. The section of the original
preface (1709) treating of the sources, follows:

"Belangende di Authores, auss welchen dise Gesange zusammen
getragen sind, so ist aurelius prudentius, oder der tjbersetzer
desselben Lider, der Urheber unsers Gesang-Buches und folget zum
ersten

Di Vorrede ilbcr des prudentii Gesangbuchlein.

"Erstlich sind di Gesange Hyronimi, und Lider des theuren
Christen-Mannes aurelii prudentii, di er Diurnarum rerum opus,
das ist : Tagliches Gesangbuchlein, genant, und in Lateinischen Ver-
sen geschriben hat, mit allem Fleisse, durch einen Libhaber der
Wahrheit, verdeutschet ; nachmahls audi ander Lider, Nimanden

" Cf. Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, pp. 156 and 157, for an account of
(1) the sources of the hymn-book ( r 53 1 ) of Michael Weiss, (2) the Bohe-
mian originals of the hymns of Johann Horn, and (3) the Moravian hymn-
book of 1639.

1S Doubtless the hymn-book of 1690.

ORIGIN OF SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK 6j

zur Schmach, sondern zur Glori unsers Herren Jesu Christi, zusam-
men gebracht: Diss alles wolle ihm der gottseelig-christliche Leser
lassen befohlen seyn; zu mehrer Erkantniiss der Wahrheit, sich er-
sehen, und im Hertzen bedenken : Daneben mit taglichem Bitten
beym Herren Christo anhalten, so ist zu hoffen er werde bald bessers
und mehrers geben; nemlich: di Psalmen Davids, mit reiner lautrer
Wahrheit, und Dolmetschung von Wort zu Wort aus der Hebrei-
schen Zungen, verdeutschet, di man nicht allein in der Gnade Christi
lesen, sondern audi singen ; sich iiben, und mit dem Munde der
Wahrheit bekennen ; und also bas 19 aussen lernen ihm einbilden ;
sich zur Wahrheit ja mehr 20 schikken, darinnen wachsen und zu-
nehmen. Das gebe der Herr Jesus ! zu seiner Glorien und viler
Menschen Heil. Amen. 1555.

Folget das Lcben Prudentii.

Aurelius Prudentius, vom LeserAugusto, aus Hispanien ge-
bohren, von Jugend auff in gutten Kiinsten, in lateinischer und
grichischer Zungen ; auch in Kayserlichen Rechten, unterrichtet und
gelehret : Hat unter dem N. und Honorio ; wi auch ihrem Vater
Theodosio, Krig gebraucht ; und ist Platus Miles nachmahls zu Mes-
selia ein Oberster, und in der Stadt Rom vor Konigs Dittrichs von
Bern, Zeit, zum fiinfften mahl Consul, oder Biirger-Meister gewe-
sen. Als er nun fiinff und sibenzig Jahr alt worden, hat er sich
bekehret, und harte bekiimmert, dass er sein Leben von Jugend an
iibel verzehret : und hat mit Verlassung der Welt angefangen, dem
Herren Jesu zu dinen, und ihn zu bekennen : Hat geistliche Lider
gedichtet, di noch vorhanden ; nemlich vom Kampffe der Seelen
wider di Siinden, vom Ursprung der Sunden, von der Gottwerdung,
vom Leyden der Martyrer und Zeugen Christi ; Insonderheit hat er
geistliche Kirchen-Gesange geschriben und gemachet ; welche Ge-
siinge man auff disen Tag zum Theil singet. Er hat gelebet zur
Zeit Hironimi, Ambrosi und Augustini ; und zur Zeit als di Gothen,
das ist, di Deutschen, und andere fremde Kriges-Volker, Roma,
Italia, und das gantze Konigreich, durch Krig verderbet haben ; ehe
denn das Pabsthum angefangen: Aber Apostasia (Abfall) und kraff-
tige Irrthum schon gewaltig auff der Bahn waren: Denn di Lehrer

' For New High German "besser."
' i. e., "jemehr."

68 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

des Volkes, mit ihrer Pliilosophia und Sophisterey, hatten ange fan-
gen den Herren Christum zu verdunkeln ; welcher Irrthum biss auff
den heutigen Tag immer krafftiger worden, und gewachsen ; wi Pru-
dentius von Apotheosie, in dem Lide von den Lehrern di das Volk
verfiihren,21 zu erkennen gibet. (Aurelius Prudentius.)

"Diesem allhi gemeldten Prudenti Gesang-Biichlein, seind ein-
verleibet, viler von Gott hocherleuchteter Christglaubiger, gelehrter
und ungelehrter Manner, Lider und Gedichte; derer Nahmen zum
Theil allhi gemeldet werden sollen : Als : I. Reimund Wekker. II.
Adam Reissner. III. George Frell. IV. Daniel Sudermann. V.
Antonius Oelsner. VI. George Heydrich. VII. Martin John, der
jiingere, und vil andere Zeugen und Bekenner der Glorien Christi,
welche di Wahrheit alle aus einem Hertzen, als mit einem Munde,
Gott zur Ehr, und den Menschen zu ihrer Erbauuug bekennt, be-
zeugt, und davon gesungen haben.

"Zum andern ist disem Gesang-Buche audi einverleibet wor-
den, das grosse Gesang-Buch, der so genannten Picarden, oder Bo-
heimischen Briider, welches erstlichen von Michael Weiss angefan-
gen : nachmahls aber von Johann Horn, gemehret und verandert :
Von welcher Veranderung ein Gottesgelehrter S. E.22 schreibet, dass
er einen neuen Abgott damit auffgerichtet habe: welcher, wi ich
hoffe, allhir wider abgethan seyn wird. Welch Gesang-Buch her-
nach abermahls von vilen Lehrern ihres Theils vermehret zu einem
grossen Werke. Deren Nahmen in ihrem Gesang-Buche an ihrem
Orte stehen ; welche gutte Poeten und Dichter sind gewesen, wi ihre
Gesange ausweisen ; welche von vilen fromen gottglaubigen Men-
schen mit Libe und Lust, nicht ohne grossen Nutz, sind gesungen
und betrachtet worden.

"Zum dritten, sind disem Buch auch einverleibet, der so ge-
nanten Evangelischen oder Lutherischen, und Reformirten Gesange,
welche zum Thcil di biblischen Geschichte und Psalmen Davids, auch
vil andere niitzliche Sachen, innen halten ; deren Poeten Nahmen
auch an vilen Orten, und sonderlich im grossen Nurnbergischen Ge-
sang-Buche, gedacht wird ; welche allhi mit Willen aussen gelassen
sind, weil man nicht allwege bey ihren Worten und Sinn bliben ist,

'This hymn is contained in the manuscript volume of 1758, p.
'Samuel Eisenmenger (?),

ORIGIN OF SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK 69

sondern einen wi ich hoffe, der Schrifft gemassern, und dem Glau-
ben ahnlichern Sinn, dafiir eingeschoben.

"Zum virdten sind ihm auch einverleibet worden, Gesange iiber
alle erklarte Evangelia durchs gantze Jahr; iiber welche di eigne
Vorrede hirnechst folget: -3

"Es soil Nimand meinen, dass dise, in disem Tractatu stehende
Lider und Gesange iiber di Evangelia, Ruhm oder Lob zu suchen,
ausgegeben sind ; Weil aucb dessen damit wenig zu erlangen wiirde
seyn: Und bey denen Christen Ruhm- und Ehr-sucht, vornehmlich
in solchen Dingen, nur ein Tharisaisches Werk ist. Auch sind si
nicht ausgegeben, sich mit Zirlichkeit und hochprachtigen Reim-
Arten sehen zu lassen ; welche hirin nicht zu linden, sondern denen
studirten Poeten iiberlassen; sondern si sind auch aus der Einfalt
ausgegeben und hervorkommen : Achte auch dafiir, dass si von der
Einfalt am besten konnen betrachtet werden. Sind aber aus keiner
andern Ursach ausgegeben, als di Reden und Thaten Christi, dem
Einfaltigen desto besser ins Gedachtniiss zu bringen, diweil di Evan-
gelisten solchen Fleiss angewand, solches zu bezeugen und zu be-
schreiben, di Christen desto gewisser zu machen, in dem was von
Christo zu halten und zu glauben ist, wi Lucas Cap. 1. an Thiophilum
bezeuget. So achte ich auch dafiir dass keine niizlichere Ubung ist,
als di Worte, Reden und Thaten Christi zu meditiren und zu be-
trachten, weil si der andern Glaubigen Lehr und Thaten weit iiber-
trefren; ob si wohl auch von dem Heiligen getriben, solches gethan,
so sind doch in den Reden und Thaten Christi di allerbesten und
vornehmlichsten Lehren, Vermahnungen, Trostungen und Warnun-
gen, enthalten und begriffen ; welche auch von alien Christen, am
fleissigsten sollen gemeditirt, betrachtet und geiibet werden. Aus
soldier und keiner andern Ursache sind dise Gesange iiber di Evan-
gelia heraus gegeben, unss in der Einfalt darin zu iiben, di Lehren,
Vermahnungen, Trostungen und Warnungen Christi desto bekannter
zu machen : Welches aber ohne des Geistes Gottes Wiirkung und
Beystand nicht geschehen kan, so wolle derselbige aus seiner Gnade
verleyen und geben, dass wir si zum Lobe Gottes und zu unserer Er-
bauung, singen, betrachten und iiben ! Wenn si aber Imande vor
kamen, der si unniitze und unnotig achtete, bitte ich, er wolle si

23 The remainder of this excerpt is the preface written by George Weiss
for his metrical versions of the gospel-lessons.

JO SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

denen lassen, di si ihnen wissen niitze zu machen. Kommen si aber
Imande vor, der ihm einen Nutzen daran ersihet, der sage Gott
Lob und Dank darum ; weil Gotte fiir alle Gaben zu danken ist, si
sind natiirlich oder geistlicb ; und lasse sich urn den Author unbe-
kummert, weil er si nur fiir sich und die Seinigen, welche es auch
hertzlich verlanget haben ausgegeben hat. Gott wolle uns seinen
Geist, den Geist der Gnaden und Andacht, um Jesu Christi seines
liben Sohnes willen geben und verleyen, dass wir si singen, be-
trachten und gebrauchen, zu seinem Lob, Preiss und Ehren, und uns
zu unsrer Seelen Heil und Seeligkeit. Amen."

With respect to the classification of the individual hymns,
two distinguishing features serve to characterize the collection
of Caspar Weiss. First : The hymns are arranged, not accord-
ing to theme or rubric, but in agreement with the course of the
ecclesiastical year — a group of hymns being arranged for each
Sunday and holy-day in the calendar year, beginning with the
first Sunday of Advent. Moreover, a close study of the classi-
fication reveals the fact, that the compiler intended that each
hymn should, as far as possible, be peculiarly appropriate to the
particular day to which it was assigned. Secondly, the hymns
thus set apart for each Sunday and holy-day are further ar-
ranged into two groups : one group being designed for use in the
morning worship, and the other in connection with afternoon or
evening devotions.24 It may also be observed, in conclusion, that
the completed compilation was designed primarily for the use of
the author's own family. This fact is noted by the Rev. Bal-
thaser Hoffmann in his account of the collection, quoted above,
and is also plainly stated on the title-page of the original collec-
tion itself.25

The following general classification of the hymns compiled
by Caspar Weiss — on the basis of authorship — is suggested in
the introduction to the manuscript volume of 1758: (1 ) the

2* In the original collection, the titles given the sub-groups for each day-
are : "Friihe" and "Vesper."

25 Compare number xxv of our Descriptive Bibliography.

ORIGIN OF SCHVVENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK Jl

Psalmen or Psalm-Licdcr, namely, metrical versions of the 150
Psalms; by Cornelius Becker, Adam Reissner, Martin John and
others; (2) the so-called Biblische Gcschichte, namely, a sum-
mary, in verse, of the more significant events of Biblical his-
tory, most of the hymns of this series having been written by
Adam Reissner; (3) the Evangeliums-Ges'dnge, to wit, the met-
rical versions of the gospel lessons, by George Weiss; and (4)
a miscellany, constituting the remainder of the compilation, and
composed of 518 hymns taken from numerous Schwenkfelder,
Moravian, Lutheran and Reformed hymn-writers. Following
is a complete list of the writers of these miscellaneous hymns,
together with the number of hymns each has contributed. In
this table we include also a register of the initials of these
authors, as they appear written beside the hymns in the manu-
script folio volume of the year 1758, in the folio volume by the
Rev. Christopher Hoffmann (1760), and in a limited number of
copies of the Saur edition :

1
2
6

23
24

1
2
1

1
1
3

A. v. Fr.

Abraham von Franckenberg

A. K.

Andreas Knopliius

A. Oe.

Antonius Oelsner

A. P.

Aurelius Prudentius

A. R.

Adam Reissner

B. Herx.

Bemhard Herxheimer

B. R.

Bartholomeus Ringwald

B. W.

Burghard Waldis

D. C. C.

(Doctor) Caspar Creutziger

C. H.

Conrad Hubert

C. K.

Christian Keymann

C. S.

Centurio Syrutsko

D. S.

Daniel Sudermann

E. A.

Erasmus Alberus

Er. Heg.

Erhard Hegenwald

"J2 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

G. F.

George Frell

G. H.

George Heydrich

G. N.

George Neumarck

G. R.

George Richter

G. V.

George Vetterus

G. W.

George Weiss

H. V.

Henrich Vogter

J. A.

Johann Angelus

J- F.

Johann Freder

J. Gel.

Johann Geletzky

J- Gig.

Johann Gigas

J. Gir.

Johann Girkius

J. He.

Johann Hermann

J. Ho.

Johann Horn

J- Hu.

Johann Huss

D. J. J.

(Doctor) Justus Jonas

J. K.

Johann Koritansky

J. R. W.

Johann Raimund Weckher

J. Steg.

Joseph Stegmann

L. H.

Ludwig Helmbold

L. L.

Lucas Libanus

L. Eo.

Ludwig Oeler

Mg. Alb.

Marggraff Albrecht

M. C.

Martin Cornelius

M. G.

Mattheus Greyter

M. J.

Martin John

D. M.L.

(Doctor) Martin Luther

M. M.

Martin Mollerus

M. P.

Martin Polycarpus

M. S.

Martin Schalling

M. T.

Michael Tham

M. W.

Michael Weiss

N. H.

Nicolaus Hermann

D. N. S.

(Doctor) Nicolaus Selnecki

2
I
I

8
4

3
1

1
1

r
1

2
2
2
40
15
3
7
1

14
124

St.

Aug.

St.

Bern

ORIGIN OF SCHWENKFELDER HYMN-BOOK 73

Paulus Eberus 2

Petrus Herbertus 68

Paulus Speratus 2

Saint Augustine I

Saint Bernhardus 2

Sebald Heiden I

Siegmund Weingartner 1

(Valentin) Triller. 16

Valentinus Schultz 3

Valentinus Weigelius 1

W. M. Wolfgang Mosel 1

Anonymous 49

Summarizing now, in accordance with the above classifica-
tion, the complete collection of Caspar Weiss consisted of the
"Psalmen," numbering 216 hymns; the "Biblische Geschichte,"
28 hymns; the "Evangeliums-Gesange," 112 hymns; and a com-
pilation representing a variety of rubrics and numbering 518
hymns. Total, 874 hymns. The complete list of these hymns,
which had been prepared for this chapter, it has been necessary
to omit.

CHAPTER VI.
George Weiss: Writer and Compiler of Hymns.

Our bibliographical account of Rev. George Weiss, the
first minister of the Schwenkfelders in America, has been re-
duced to the minimum, both in order to save space, and also
because the sources cited in the footnote below will furnish the
reader a sufficient life-sketch of the subject of our study in this
chapter. As already noted, he was the son of Caspar Weiss,
whose work on behalf of Schwenkf elder hymnology we have
just considered. He was born at Harpersdorf, in Silesia, 1687,
and died within the present limits of Lower Sal ford township,
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on the eleventh of March,
1740.

Like his father, he was admirably fitted for the work of
a hymnodist. He had a natural bent for the writing of poetry,
although unfortunately he never received training in the poetic
art — a fact which he himself lamented frequently, both in his
efforts as a compiler of hymns, as well as when acting in the
role of a hymn writer. He had rendered his father much as-
sistance in transcribing and compiling the hymns of the collec-
tion of 1709. He was versed in three of the ancient languages
— Hebrew,' Greek and Latin. Being of pious parentage, he was
early indoctrinated with Biblical principles, as well as grounded
in the creed and tenets of Caspar von Schwenkf eld. Indeed,
it may safely be said that there has never been a more intensely
spiritual Schwenkfelder than George Weiss.1

The following brief account of George Weiss, extant in
manuscript, may be submitted in this connection ; inasmuch as
it is here published for the first time, and also because it was
penned by his co-eval and lifelong bosom friend, Rev. Balthaser
Hoffmann. It bears the date of 1753.

1 For an account of the literary and ministerial activity of Rev. George
Weiss, see: H. W. Kriebel, The Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania, pp. 56ff. and
i86ff. Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelders, pp. xxiii and 1-3.

(74)

GEORGE WEISS 75

"George Weiss war gebiihrtig von Harpersdorfr, einem Dorffe
im Fiirstenthum Lignitz in Schlesien ; sein Vater hat geheissen Cas-
par Weiss, von Deutmanns-Dorff gebiihrtig; seine Mutter Anna,
eine gebohrne Andersin, gebiihrtig von Harpersdorff, alle beyde
schlecht,2 arm und unansehnlich vor der Welt. George hatte einen
Bruder mit Nahmen Caspar, und eine Schwester mit Nahmen Ma-
ria ; sind alle beyde in bester Jugend in Schlesien gestorben. Im
Jahr 1715 hat er sich in Ehestand begeben, sein Weib hat Anna ge-
heissen, eine gebohrne Meschterin, gebiihrtig von Langen-Neundorff ;
diselbe ist biss in das 3 Land mit gekommen, und bald nach der An-
kunfft in Philadelphia gestorben, ligt daselbst auff dem Pilgrims-
Begrabniiss in der Erde.4 Ein Sohnlein haben si mit einander ge-
zeuget, und ist genant worden Abraham ; ist in seinem andren Jahr
ihnen schon wider entnommen ; ist er also in disem Lande gantz
arm, einfaltig und allein, und vor der Welt unwerth gewesen. Weil
er denn in heiliger Schrifft einen zihmlichen Fleiss gehabt, und einen
Willen zu Gott und seiner Ehren ; wiwohl aber auch mit viler
Schwachheit und Verhinderniiss, hat ihm Gott aber ein herrlich
Maass, Gabe und Pfund verlihen, zu einem Aufschluss der heiligen
Schrifft, der Geheimniisse Gottes, und zum Unterscheide der reinen
Christliche Theologia, in diser letzten verwirrten Zeit. * * *
Also ist er demnach unter unss zu einem Vorsteher, als in Ordnung
einer Gemein, zu einem Handleiter des Bekantniisses, Zu einem
Wegweiser im christlichen Leben, und zu einem Anfiihrer der Ju-
gend angenommen worden, in Bezeugung dass er fahig dazu er-
kannt wiirde, dass er solches vermoge ; da er denn nach seinem Er-
kantniiss, mit Berathung und Befragung seines Gewissens und mit
vilem Seuffzen zu Gott eine Ordnung und Einrichtung gestellet, und
einen solchen Eyffer um Gott dabey bezeiget, dass auch wohl einige
Kennzeichen sich geaussert und iiberzeugende Merkmahle ge-
wesen, dass ein solcher Weg richtig der grade Buss-Weg zur

Seeligkeit ist, nehmlich, eine gantzliche Erkantniiss und Absterbung
des Verderbniisses, in vvahrer Dehmutt, Thranen und Gebet; Auf-
opfferung und Ergebung in den Willen Gottes, und solches alle

'i. e., "schlicht."

3 «'. e., America.

*The cemetery referred to, if still existing, has not been identified. It
may have been a burial-place since abolished.

j6 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Tage zu erneuern ; fleissige Ubung in hciliger Schrifft, mit taglichem
Gebett um Aufschluss gottlicher Geheimniiss, und um Gn'ade zur
Besserung und Verneuerung des Lebens, nach Anweisung der heili-
gen Schrifft etc. Da er denn solchen Dinst mit hertzlichem Eyffer
um Gott und der Menschen Seeligkeit 4 Jahr gepflogen, hat das letzte
Jahr seine Natur zihmlich abgenommen, auch durch eine Krankheit,
seines Todes Erinnerung geschehen, hat er aber bey aller Schwach-
heit seinen Fleiss, sovil als es moglichsten mochte seyn gethan, biss
eine Woche vor seinem Ende er bettlagrich worden. Seine Krank-
heit bestunde meistens in Mattigkeit, und ein wenig Seitenstechen,
wurde ein Magen-Fiber genennt, dass er keinen Schmakk mehr zura
Essen hatte, machte ihm auch hefftige Beschwerde im Leibe, ist also
mit gutter Besonnenheit 1740, den 11. Mertz, im 53. Jahr seines
Alters auss der Zeit abgefordert, und also zur Erden bestattet wor-
den, ligt begraben zu Schippach auff dem Lande George Jakkels.5"

Translation :

"George Weiss was born in Harpersdorf, a village in the prin-
cipality of Liegnitz in Silesia ; his father was Caspar Weiss, born
in Deutmannsdorf ; his mother Anna (nee) Anders, born in Har-
persdorf, and both were plain, poor and insignificant, as the world
goes. George had a brother named. Caspar, and a sister, Mary; both
died in Silesia in the bloom of youth. In 1715 he married. His
wife was Anna (nee) Meschter, born in Langen-Neundorff ; she
accompanied him to this country, and died shortly after the landing
at Philadelphia. She is buried there in the Pilgrims' cemetery.
They had an infant son whom they named Abraham, who was taken
from them in his second year. So that in this country he was
quite poor and alone, a plain man and, as the world goes, unim-
portant. But because he exhibited a seemly zeal for the Holy
Scriptures, and was minded to please God and honor Him (although
in great frailty and in the face of many obstacles) God vouchsafed
to him in magnificent measure a talent for interpreting Holy Writ,
for disclosing the mysteries of God and for discerning sound Chris-
tian doctrine, in these latter doubtful days. * * * For this rea-
son, he was chosen as our head (regarding ourselves as a congrega-

J Then, a private burying-ground. Now the cemetery of the Lower Salford
Schwenkfelder church.

GEORGE WEISS 77

tion), as our chief in our Confession of Faith, as our leader in
Christian living, and as the guide of our youth. Thereby we attested
that his qualification for these duties was recognized. And having
(in accordance with his judgment, and after consultation with his
conscience and long agonizing before God) arranged a plan for re-
ligious services and an order of worship, and having manifested
therewith such a zeal for God that certain signs and indications ap-
peared of the correctness of such a course, the direct course to
salvation through penitence ; namely, a full apprehension and morti-
fication of our depravity, in true humility, sorrow and prayer; self-
sacrifice and surrender to the will of God, and the daily renewal of
these things ; the zealous practice of Scriptural discipline, with daily
supplication for the unlocking of the divine mysteries and for grace
for the mending and renewing of our lives, under the direction of

the Scriptures having conducted such a ministry for four years,

with a true passion for God and the salvation of men, during the
last year his strength failed appreciably, and a subsequent illness
warned him of his approaching end. But in spite of his frailty he
continued zealous, in as far as this was at all possible, up to a week
before his death, when he became confined to his bed. His illness
was chiefly of the nature of exhaustion, with some pleurisy (it was
said to be gastric fever). He had no desire for food and suffered
intense pains in the abdomen. And thus on the eleventh of March,
1740, in full possession of his faculties and in the fifty-third year
of his age, he was called away, and his body was conveyed to its
interment. He is buried at Schippach on a plot of ground belonging
to George Yeakel."

The relation which George Weiss sustains to the hymnody
of the Schwenkfelders is three-fold : First, as a writer of hymns ;
second, as a reviser of hymns ; and third, as a transcriber and com-
piler. Of his activity as a hymn writer, barely an outline can
be given here; to wit, (i) "Gesange uber die Evangelia" (1709)
— metrical versions of the "Gospel Lessons" for the entire eccle-
siastical year; (2) "Meditationes" (ca. 1724 — 30), 6 being sev-

" Each proper name treated is given in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and German.
Then follow the references containing the Biblical account of the character
under consideration. Then the "Meditatio" in the form of a hymn.

78 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

eral series of hymns based on the names of numerous Bible
characters — the patriarchs, the prophets, the genealogy of Christ
as given in Matthew, the genealogy of Christ as recorded by
Luke, and the apostles — each group becomes the basis of a series
of hymns; and (3) his revision of the hymns of Daniel Suder-
mann.7 This revision consisted of a restrophicising of a number
of the Sudermann hymns, and the addition, to the majority of
the hymns, of one or more strophes intended as a prayer
(SeufzerJ.

Of the hymnological studies of George Weiss — studies that
were both extensive and productive of valuable information —
our space forbids us to speak. Neither does this phase of his
activity properly belong to the scope of the present work. It
is in his role as the promoter of the work begun by Caspar
Weiss, his father, that he demands consideration here. It was
about the year 1726, when George Weiss took up the task of re-
arranging and enlarging the hymn collection of 1709. The ad-
dition which was at this time made to the original collection,
was composed chiefly of three series of hymns ; each complete
in itself and written by as many authors. The series in question
were: (1) The hymns of Daniel Sudermann which Weiss had
revised — a series of hymns interpreting the Song of Solomon;
(2) the "Epistel-lieder" so-called, by Balthaser Hoffmann — be-
ing a series of metrical versions of the "Epistle-lessons," com-
plete for the church year; (3) the "Meditationes," which we
have already characterized. The other hymns added by George
Weiss to the first collection constitute a miscellany representing
various Moravian and Lutheran hymn writers, as well as the
early church fathers. The complete list of the hymns of this
miscellany, which had been prepared for this chapter, it has
been necessary to omit.

With respect to the plan of arrangement, it should be noted
that the compilation made by George Weiss differs from that

7 The Sudermann hymns based on the Song of Solomon. See our De-
scriptive Bibliography.

GEORGE WEISS 79

of 1709 in two important features: First, the hymns selected
for each Sunday and holy day are further arranged into four
groups having the titles "Fruhe," "Vor-Mittage," "Nach-Mit-
tage" and "Kinder-Lehr," the second and third of these groups
corresponding to the two-fold division of the collection of Cas-
par Weiss; second, the individual hymns are classified on the
basis of metrical structure — as far as was practicable, hymns
with the same type of verse and the same or a similar strophic
structure, having been grouped together. Moreover, verse for
verse, the syllables were carefully counted in order to exclude
entirely the hiatus and to leave not a hymn with an imperfect
line.8 As hinted above, the arrangement of the hymn-groups by
Sundays and holy days — one characteristic, as we have seen, of
the original compilation — was retained by the second compiler.
In the earliest manuscript of this collection known to exist
there are, unfortunately, missing from the preface those pages
which contained the compiler's own account of the sources with
which he was operating when enlarging the original collection.
However, the loss is luckily repaired in part by the following
account of the second compilation, extant in the already cited
surviving manuscript of Balthaser Hoffmann. The passage con-
tains, also, Hoffmann's statement of the re-arrangement which
the first collection underwent in the hands of George Weiss, the
second compiler. We quote Hoffmann in full :

"Lange darnach B und nach Caspar Weissens Tode, und beson-
ders zur Zeit des Mission,10 meditirte und schrib auff, George Weiss
di Meditationes iiber di Nahmen der Geschlechte in Matheo und
Luca, und di andern Nahmen ; welche er erst in Sachsen, nach der
ersten Emigration ll verfertigte. Darnach in Sachsen, in der Stille

"The natural word-stress is frequently disregarded — in accordance with
the literary traditions of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, when such
verse was not considered imperfect. Compare the "Knittelvers" of Hans
Sachs.

' ('. e., after 1709. In the Hoffmann manuscript this citation is a continua-
tion of the one given on page 63f.

10 The Jesuit Mission in Silesia. Opened in the year 1719.

"The Schwenkfelders (about 170 families), to escape the net of the

80 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

unci fiir sich, zu einer Hauss-Ubung, weil er still und geruhig lebte,
und den Sonntag und di Zeit der Feyer suchte anzuwenden, und eine
Obung zu haben, hat er das erste Werk vermehret, und in Vier sonn-
tagliche Abtheilungen geordnet, wi es nun am Tage ligt ; audi kamen
dehmahls dazu, di Lider iiber di Episteln,12 welche Vermehrung
auch in der Vorrede weiter mit gedacht ist; hat audi dahmahls di
Bitten zum Beschluss der Lider Daniel Sudermanns gestellet. Nun
ist aber bey dieser Ordnung, und Eintheilung der Lider zu merken,
dass er di Absicht nicht hat gehabt dabey, dass es zu einer Nachmach-
ung seyn soil (wi nun gefolget ist) ob es auch wohl bey seiner Leb-
ens-Zeit (audi ich selber) abgescriben; sondern er pflegte es zu seiner
Ubung in der Stille; und nahm Vor-Mittage und Nach-Mittage, di
Bekantesten ; zu den andern zwey Abtheilungen aber di Fremdesten.
Und zwar ordnete er es, dass wi weit es mochte angehen, eine gleiche
Vile 13 im Singen war ; daher zehlete er di Syllabon an den Gesan-
gen, und nahm denn einen Gesang hiher, und einen andern dorthin ;
daher ist geschehen, dass di Lehre der Gesange, denn nicht auffein-
ander zustimmet. Sonst weiss ich wohl, dass wenn er gewust, dass es
solte zu einem daurenden Werke seyn, er es wiirde anders einge-
richtet haben ; wi er auch einmahl zu mir gesaget : Wenn ichs izt
solte einrichten, es konte seyn, dass manch Lid nicht dazu kame.
Dises hinterlasse ich nicht, um G. Weissens Werk zu tadeln, oder
untiichtig zu machen, sondern um richtiges Wissens Willen. B. H.
1753-

Translation :

"Long afterwards and after the death of Caspar Weiss, and
especially at the time of the Mission, George Weiss wrote his "Medi-
tationes" on the names of the generations in Matthew and Luke,
and the other names. Not until after the first emigration, in Saxony,
were they completed. Thereafter in Saxony, privately, and for his
own use and that of his household, because he led a quiet life and

Jesuits, fled to Silesia by night in 1726, escaping to the Oberlausitz in Saxony.
Here they were protected by Count von Zinzendorf, the Moravian bishop, for
8 years.

" Written by Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann.

" "Count" or number of syllables. Daniel Sudermann occasionally uses
this feminine noun, "die Vile" (= number or large number). Cf. Wacker-
nagel, I, 683.

GEORGE WEISS 8l

sought to make good use of Sundays and holydays, and also for the
training, he enlarged the first collection, making a fourfold division
of the hymns for each Sunday, as it still exists. At that time the
hymns on the Epistle lessons also were added; and this augmenta-
tion receives further mention in the preface. He also wrote at this
time the prayer strophes intended as addenda to the hymns of Daniel
Sudermann. But with regard to the arrangement of this collection,
it should be noted, that he had no thought that it would be imitated
(as has been the case), although it was transcribed in his life-time,
and I too have transcribed it ; but he prepared it for his own private
use. And for the divisions "Vor-Mittage" and "Nach-Alittage" he
chose the more familiar, for the other two divisions however the
less familiar hymns. And furthermore he arranged it in such a way
that, as far as might be practicable, there would be a uniform metre
for the singing of the hymns. Accordingly he counted the syllables,
and placed one hymn here and another there, with the result that the
hymns in the matter of theme have no sequence. For I well know,
that if he had known that it was destined to be a permanent work,
he would have arranged it differently. Indeed he said to me at one
time: 'If I were to arrange it now, it might be that a number of the
hymns would not be included.' This I submit, not to censure or to
condemn the work of George Weiss, but for the sake of exact
knowledge."

Summarizing, now, with respect to constituency and size,
the collection of George Weiss was composed of: (i) The
entire collection of 1709, numbering 874 hymns; (2) the Suder-
mann hymns as revised by Weiss — 230 in number; (3) the
"Epistel-lieder," by Hoffmann, 106 hymns; (4) the "Medita-
tiones" by the compiler himself, 178 hymns; and (5) 171 hymns
of a miscellaneous character. Total, 1559 hymns.14 Such was
the Schwenkfelder hymn collection as it came from the hands of
Rev. George Weiss. It was completed on the eve of the depar-
ture of the Schwenkfelders from Saxony. In September of the
year 1734, with its author it reached the genial land of Perm;
and for upwards of thirty years it served as the hymnary of the

14 Compare with this, The Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania, p. 107.

02 SCHWENKFELDER HYMN0L0GY

sect, furnishing the hymns sung at their gatherings for religious
worship, at the meetings of their youth for "Kinderlehr" and
at the annual observance of "Gedaechtnisstag." In our next
chapter we shall see that before the appearance (1762) of the
first hymn-book of the Schwenkfelders printed in America, their
manuscript hymn collection was destined to be once more re-
arranged, although after 1734 it was augmented but little while
it remained in manuscript.

CHAPTER VII.

Balthaser Hoffmann, Christopher Hoffmann
and Hans Christoph Huebner.

It is our purpose to treat here in brief the matter of how
the Schwenkf elder hymn-collection, founded by Caspar Weiss and
enlarged by George Weiss, came to undergo a thorough rewriting
in point of arrangement, but a few years before it was chosen
as the basis for the printed hymn-book. In this connection it
will be necessary to discuss the relation of three immigrant
Schwenkfelders to the evolution of the Saur edition. They are :
Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann, Rev. Christopher Hoffmann, his son,
and Hans Christoph Hubner. The matter of the relation to
each other of the three folio volumes of the years 1758, 1759
and 1760 is also a part of our problem in this chapter.

Balthaser Hoffmann.1

This account of Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann is limited to, first,
his activity as a writer of hymns and transcriber of hymns
and, second, his studies of hymns. The works cited herewith
should be consulted for fuller biographical information concern-
ing this eminent Schwenkfelder poet and theologian. We shall
first recount, summarily, his interest and participation in the pro-
moting of the Schwenkfelder hymn-collection.

In earlier chapters, we learned from Hoffmann's own pen,
that he was thoroughly familiar with the circumstances of the
origin of the parent collection of 1709, and that he himself made
a transcription of the same immediately upon its completion. In-
deed, it is not unlikely that he rendered assistance to Caspar Weiss
by copying hymns for the collection. From his account of both
the first and the second collection, already cited, it is also evident
that he was in close personal association with the author of the

1 Cf. Genealogical Record of the Schivcnkfeldcrs, pp. xvi. and 5-9. The
Schwenkfelders in Pennsylvania, pp. 20-23 and i88ff.

(83)

84 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

"Evangelia-lieder," the "Meditationes" and the revised Suder-
mann hymns, when these series were being written. He had
learned by personal inquiry, the purpose of George Weiss in ar-
ranging the second compilation on the basis of metre, and had
conversed with him respecting the misfortune of the choice of this
system of arrangement, in view of the fact that the compilation
had become the accepted hymnary of the sect. It was Hoffmann
also who had contributed to the second collection, the "Epistel-
lieder" complete pro anno ecclesiastico — the idea of the series
having been suggested by the "Evangelia-lieder" of his friend
Weiss. Moreover, Hoffmann made a transcription of the second
hymn-collection, as he had done in the case of the first.

However, as the head of the Schwenkfelder ministerium
(in this capacity, Hoffmann succeeded Rev. George Weiss,
serving until 1763) he had found the collection unhappily ar-
ranged, since it was altogether deficient in the matter of arrange-
ment as to sequence of doctrine. It is further evident, that in
this particular, Hoffmann regarded the compilation as unsuited
to the purposes of a church hymnary. As such, it needed to
undergo a thorough recompiling ; and in the volumes listed in our
second chapter for the years 1758 and 1759, we have carried into
effect, the rearrangement which without doubt Hoffmann for
some years had had in mind.

The study of hymns was for Balthaser Hoffmann an em-
ployment which he loved. Occasionally on "Gedachtnisstag"2
he would present the study of a favorite hymn. His analyses of
numerous hymns have been preserved. They reflect both intens-
ity of method and an amazing wealth of meditations. They are
worthy of a close homiletic study. Rev. Christopher Hoffmann
made a selection of these studies, of which the list follows: 3

2 The Memorial Day of the Schwenkfelders, observed annually on the
24th of September and commemorating the landing at Philadelphia, 1734.

8 From a manuscript in folio now in the possession of Hon. S. W. Penny-
packer, LL. D., who most kindly placed it at the disposal of the present
writer. The title of the volume follows :

Erbauliche und Nutzliche/ Betrachtungen./ Welche der treue und ein-
faltige Zeuge Gottes, Je-/ su Christi, und seiner reinen Wahrheit/ Balthaser

barium mjpmifij&|e Uifdngt

urn) aiil^riqct |'nu^.

■ |(||(|n
*

"■» -v f *~ k. iv " V :'!;;im

- H|( audi Tteftfcn nut ckan ^ijta%H.Wj^cm_^
If ^4 A t^v agdfd&J (k^k^S****** #

Title Page of Hymn-Book. Written by Hans Christoph HCbner.

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 85

I. Bedencken iiber das Lied : Glaubige Seel ! schau dein Herr.

II. Kurtzes Summarium cines Bedenckens, iiber den 7. 8. und
9. Vers des Liedes: Ein Kind ist uns gebohren lient. 1746.

III. Summarium eines Bedenckens, aus dem Liede. Lobsinget
all mit Freuden. 1747.

IV. Kurtzer Begrieff des Inhalts einer Betrachtung iiber das
Lied: Schau siindiger Mensch! wer du bist. 1742.

V. Kurtze Vorstellung iiber das Lied : Jesus Christus lied den
Tod. 1742.

VI. Kurtzer Auszug eines Bedenckens, iiber das Lied : Freuet
euch heut allegleich. 1747.

VII. Bedencken iiber 5. Verse aus dem Liede: Frolock heut
Christglaubige Seel. 1748.

VIII. Bedencken iiber etliche Vorstellungen an Christo. Aus
dem Liede: Jesus Christus lied den Tod. 1743.

IX. Kurtzer Auszug iiber einige Betrachtungen vom heiligen
Geiste, aus dem Liede : O Gott Schopffer heiliger Geist. 1747.

X. Bedencken iiber das Lied: Der Mensch hat einen grossen
Schatz. 1751.

XL Summarisches Bedencken iiber den iten Vers des Liedes:
Der Mensch hat einen grossen Schatz. 1747.

XII. Eine kurtze Erklarung, zu mehrem und reicherm Ver-
stande des Liedes : Schbnster Jesu ! Konig der Ehren. 1766.

XIII. Kurtzes Bedencken, zu einer Anweisung, iiber das Lied :
O glaubigs Hertze benedey. 1746.

XIV. Kurtze Anweisung und Bedencken, iiber das Lied:
Mensch! Erheb dein Hertz zu Gott. 1746.

XV. Betrachtung iiber das Lied: Last uns folgen sanct Pauli
Lehr. 1750.

XVI. Bedencken iiber einige Verse aus dem Liede : Menschen
Kind was briist du dich.

XVII. Vier Betrachtungen, aus dem Liede: Ey last uns jetzt
allsamt.

Hoffmann/ in Pennsilvanien von Anno 1737. bisz Anno 1768./ Geschrieben./
Bestehend in dreyen Theilen./ Der I. Theil enthalt :/ Betrachtungen iiber
heilige Schrifft. altes und neues Testa-/ ments, sowol iiber gantze Capitel,
als auch iiber Verse/ aus derselben./ Der II. Theil enthalt:/ Andere niitz-
liche Betrachtungen und Bekantnisse./ Der III. Theil enthalt :/ Betrachtungen
iiber Lieder./ Auch mit zwey nutzlichen Registern versehen./ Gesammlet und
zusammen getragen von/ Christoph Hoffmann/ M.DCC. XCV.

86 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

At the time of the publication of the Saur edition, Balthaser
Hoffmann had a more intimate knowledge of the hymn-collec-
tions of Caspar Weiss and George Weiss, both as to their his-
tory and their content, than any other Schwenkfelder living.
In 1753 he had completed a transcription of the George Weiss
collection, enriching the value of the collection for devotional
use with interpretations and Scripture references. At this time
he had also carefully recorded the facts of the origin of this
collection, then the hymnary of the sect in manuscript. He was
well informed with regard to the work of Caspar Weiss and
that of George Weiss in the textual criticism of numerous hymns
of the Schwenkfelder collection, and in 1754 had written an ex-
planation of the motives by which these compilers had been
actuated in venturing upon the work of textual revision. From
1740-1763, he filled the pastoral office of the Schwenkfelders —
the period during which the hymn-book of the Bohemian Breth-
ren passed out of use, and the publication of a hymn-book by
and for the Schwenkfelders had been discussed, undertaken
and realized. Moreover, documentary evidence is not wanting
that Balthaser Hoffmann had long felt keenly the need of a
printed Schwenkfelder hymn-book, and that he was a leader in
the movement for the publication of it. Of the hymns by Bal-
thaser Hoffmann contained in the Saur edition, twelve, includ-
ing the hymn which heads the collection, were written while the
hymn-book was in process of publication.

We give here, in translation and somewhat abridged, the
biographical account of Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann written by
Rev. Christopher Hoffmann, his son :4

"Balthaser Hoffmann was born in the year 1687 in Harpers-
dorf, Principality of Liegnitz, Silesia, of poor plain and unpretending
parents, and was brought up in such traditions. He was employed
in Harpersdorf, especially in winter, as a weaver; at other times,
however, frequently as a day laborer. In stature, he was a tall man,
rather slender, his face longish and thin; and after his fiftieth year

* Ibidem.

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 87

his hair grew entirely white. Even at an early age he had both a
bent and a zeal for learning the ancient languages ; and by his inde-
fatigable diligence and the assistance of good books (which how-
ever were not plentiful, because his means were insufficient to pro-
cure them) he succeeded in acquiring a fair mastery of Latin, Greek
and Hebrew, so that he knew these languages. Besides he had both
the inclination and concern to devote himself to the Scriptures, in
order to acquire the correct understanding of them ; to this end his
knowledge of the languages was extremely useful and serviceable,
since by this means he was able to examine the original text of the
Scriptures, so that this knowledge was of great assistance for the
better understanding of them. He was also zealous in the practice
of Christian doctrine, and in the confession of the untainted truth
revealed by God through Caspar Schwenkfeld, desiring to apprehend
and to comprehend it accurately and unalloyed. And this God
granted him, so that he obtained an abounding knowledge of it.
Moreover, all his life he kept a watchful eye upon it, to keep it
pure and to avoid mingling with it accessory doctrines. * * *

"Upon his safe arrival in Philadelphia, he did not long remain
in the city, but went into the country and, in accordance with the
custom there, founded a home, since God had again blessed him so
that he and his family could once more live peaceably. Moreover,
his study of the Scriptures and Christian doctrine he at no time
neglected, but devoted himself to them with the utmost diligence.
And his liberty in Pennsylvania was to him a particularly momentous
matter, which he regarded as a great divine favor and gift, be-
stowed upon the untainted testimony of the truth, that it might be
cherished and practiced without hindrance.

"When to George Weiss had been assigned the charge of hold-
ing public worship, as well as the performance of the marriage
ceremony, the preaching of the Word at burial services and the
catechising of the children ; and when in 1740 George Weiss quite
unexpectedly heard the last summons, these duties were entrusted
to him (Balthaser Hoffmann), even though a few times he secured
release. Especially in 1749, when on his chest and in his bronchial
tubes he had a sensation which made breathing difficult, and this
gradually became worse until both singing and speaking were un-
endurable. But in each instance he was again applied to, particu-

88 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

larly to conduct the public services and catechise the children, by
reason of his capability, which was divinely bestowed. And this he
did, until on account of old age he was no longer able. * * *

"In 1774, December twenty-first, he was attacked with vertigo,
which left him quite weak. Repeated attacks followed at intervals
of about two weeks leaving him every time in greater weakness.
* * * On the eleventh of July 1775, we observed that he was
even weaker than usual and that his feebleness was increasing. This
continued until he lost his speech, and a few hours before his
departure consciousness left him. On the above mentioned day, in
the afternoon at 5 o'clock, calmly and but slightly disturbed, in the
eighty-ninth year of his age, he fell asleep. The Lord be praised for
having thus summoned him, and grant that we may be saved and
follow him. Amen. Written in the year 1777. Christoph Hoff-
mann."

Rev. Christopher Hoffmann's earliest and most important
contribution to Schwenkf elder hymnology was the manuscript
hymn-book of 1760. A general characterization of this volume
is contained in our Descriptive Bibliography. The pre-eminent
feature of this hymn-book is the incorporation of the textual
revision or "correction" of numerous hymns, made by Caspar
Weiss and George Weiss. A detailed account of the nature and
design of this textual study is included in the introduction. The
hymns involved are principally those of the Bohemian Brethren.
It appears that Caspar Weiss compared the hymns common to
the various editions of the Bohemian hymn-book, ascertained the
variant readings and then, whenever possible, restored the text
of the earliest print of the hymn. If, in his opinion, the text
was sectarian or otherwise open to criticism, he supplied his own
revision. In the same way, George Weiss revised the non-
Schwenkf elder hymns which he added to his father's collection.
In the volume under discussion Christopher Hoffmann has indi-
cated and recorded about five hundred of these "corrections,"
by writing in the margin in each instance either the unrevised
variant, or the initial of the corrector. The results of this work
were applied in large measure in the editing of the printed hymn-

Manuscript Hyjin-Buok (1760). Written by Christoph Hoffmann.

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 89

book.5 Another service performed by Christopher Hoffmann
was the preservation, already noted, of many exegeses of hymns
made by his father, Balthaser Hoffmann. Again, the manuscript
appendix which many copies of the Saur edition contain, is his
work. Following is the description of the hymn-book of 1760,
written on a fly-leaf of the volume by its owner, Former Gov-
ernor S. W. Pennypacker :6

"This hymn-book of the Schwenckfelders, which may be said
to represent the art of the Middle Ages, extended into the 18th

Century and across the Atlantic is the best specimen of their

manuscripts known to those familiar with the subject. It was writ-
ten between 1758 and 1760 in Penna. and was bound here and the
clasps and mountings were made here. Christoph Hoffman, who
wrote it, came to Penna. at six years of age, so that his art was
learned here. It is therefore, except as to the literature, purely a
Penna. production. Hoffman was born in 1728 and died Jany. 29,
1804, so that when he undertook this task he was thirty years of
age. He was a Schwenckf elder minister.

"An account of the origin of this collection of hymns with a
series of biographical sketches of the authors is given in the preface.
The initials of the authors are written beside the hymns and are
explained in the preface. Aurelius Prudentius, a pious Spaniard
about A. D. 400, wrote a number of hymns in Latin, which were
translated into German by Adam Reissner. This and the hymn
book of the Picards or Bohemian Brethren, which was translated
by Michael Weiss in 1531 and increased and corrected by Johan
Horn, constituted the earliest and principal sources. Selections were
also made from the hymns written by the Schwenckfelders Adam
Reissner, Reimund Wecker, George Frell, Daniel Sudermann, An-
tonius Oelsner, George Heydrick, Martin John and others, and by
some of the Lutherans and Reformed.

"Caspar Weiss, born at Deutmansdorf in Silesia, and who mar-
ried Anna, daughter of George Anders, made the collection in 1709
for the use of his family and it was afterward adopted by the
church. George Weiss, his son, born 1687 at Harpersdorf in Si-

B Compare with this, page xiv of the preface of the Saur edition.
" Printed by permission.

90 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

lesia and who married Anna Meschter, the leader of the Schwenck-
felder emigration and their first preacher here increased the col-
lection in 1726 and arranged it in four parts. There are also some
hymns written abroad and here by Balthaser Hoffman, father of
Christoph, who was born in 1686 and came to Penna. in 1734.

"In the manuscript the letter 'A' signifies that the hymn is in its
old form, 'C that it has been corrected by Caspar Weiss, and 'G'
by George Weiss. In the Second Register the hymns collected by
Caspar Weiss are designated by red capitals and those by George
Weiss by black. This collection, which up to that time had re-
mained in manuscript, formed the basis of the hymn-book printed
by Saur in 1762.

"On examining this manuscript we cannot help but feel the
strongest admiration for the zeal and patience of the scribe, the
neatness and excellence of his work, the strength and beauty of
the binding, and the nice care with which the book has been pre-
served through one hundred and twenty-one years in all its original
freshness and purity.

"Samuel W. Pennypacker,

"Nov. 6, 1881."

Hans Christoph Hiibner was born in 1721. His father was
Christoph Hiibner and his mother Maria (nee Yeakel). He
and his parents came to America in 1737. He is buried on the
farm on which he lived, near the present Cedars, Montgomery
County. The farm is now (1909) owned by William G. Freed.
The writer is extremely glad of the opportunity to direct atten-
tion to this neglected Schwenkfelder scribe, Hans Christoph
Hiibner. In 1746 he married Barbara Schultz, who in 1734, at
the age of 14 years, with her widowed mother had emigrated to
America. Having attained the rank of a householder, he soon
acquired prominence in the life of the church. For thirty years
beginning (circa) 1745, he was active as a transcriber and com-
piler. He wrote the three folio volumes of hymns dated 1758.
1759 and 1765. In addition, three massive collections of sermons
in folio, numerous quartos of hymns and of homiletic literature,
and a great variety of additional volumes. In the quantity of

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 91

manuscript produced, he leads all the transcribers of the Schwenk-
felders in America, admitting the possible exception of Rev. Balt-
haser Hoffmann. It was he who executed (1758-59) the last re-
arrangement of the Weiss hymn-collection, to which he added
120 hymns. In the period 1 760-1 780, he was prominent in the
movement for the organization of the sect, and was one of the five
"Haus-vater" of the Lower District at whose homes in routine the
Sunday meetings for worship were held. He was also a liberal
contributor to the fund established (1764) for the founding and
support of the school system inaugurated that year. Miss Flora
Krauss Heebner, missionary of the Schwenkf elder Church, who
is stationed at Shansi, China, and her brother, Rev. Harvey
Krauss Heebner, pastor of the First Schwenkfeldian Church of
Philadelphia, are lineal descendants of Hans Christoph Hubner.
He died at the age of 82 years.

The story of the folio volumes bearing the dates of 1758
and 1759, may be both simply and briefly told. In point of
content, the former consists of the second collection, as compiled
and arranged by George Weiss, excluding the "Psalm-Lieder,"
the "Biblische Geschichte," the Sudermann hymns based on the
Song of Solomon, the "Meditationes," the "Evangelia-Gesange"
and the "Epistel-lieder." Of these six series, three were included
in the collection of 1709 and the others added by George Weiss
In a word, the manuscript hymn-book dated 1758 is composed of
the miscellaneous hymns of the collection of Caspar Weiss and
the miscellany of the George Weiss addition. These hymns, treat-
ing exhaustively every phase of Christian doctrine, are grouped
by the various articles ("Artickel") so-called, of the Christian
creed and doctrine, consecutively presented. Furthermore, the
hymns of each "Artickel" are prefaced with a summary of the
teaching they contain. Those hymns which are translations of
hymns by the church-fathers, are in most cases given in parallel
columns with their Latin originals.

The re-distribution of the hymns having advanced this far,
the task remained of submitting to a like arrangement the hymns

92 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

of the six distinct series named above. In the volume of the
year 1759 we find this work accomplished. These two volumes
together comprise the Schwenkfelder hymn-collection in its final
arrangement in manuscript. It is not surprising that the scribe
remarks in the passage cited below, that he found the collection
too massive to be bound into a single volume. The two volumes
contain a total of more than twenty-two hundred pages in folio.
The following excerpt, taken from the introduction of the manu-
script volume of 1758, contains the author's own statement of
the source of the hymns composing it :

"Weil auf dem Titul-Blatt dieses Buches gemeldet ist, dass ein
Verzeichniss oder Ordnung diesem Buche beygefiiget, nach welchem
die Gesange (nach Belieben und Gefalligkeit) zu denen Evangelien
auf alle Sonn- und Feyer-Tage durchs ganze Jahr, konnen betrach-
tet werden : So wil ich hiebey erinnern, dass Caspar Weiss die Ge-
sange gesammlet, und auss vielen Autoribus zusammen getragen,
und, auf Begehren treuer Gemuther, auf die Sonntage geordnet hat,
und zwar in zwey Abtheilungen, zu einer Ubung in der Stille daheim
im Hause mit den Seinen zu gebrauchen (Anno 1709) : Und, dass
die Gesange in diesem Buche, eben dieselben Gesange sind, die er
also zusammen getragen ; ohne die Psalmen, biblischen Geschichte,
und Evangeliums-Gesange, welche zusammen in ein Buch allein
sollen geschrieben werden.7 Weil auch ohne dem dieses Buch fast
zu gross worden." 8

In the following passage, the author sets forth his object in
submitting these hymns to a rearrangement :

"Sintemal denn die heiligen Apostel und andere alte und Christ-
liche Lehrer der Kirchen das Bekantniss dess Glaubens und die
gottselige Christliche Lehre, in unterschiedene Haubt-Puncte und
Artickel verabfasset haben, zu einem Dienste fur den ausern Men-

'The manuscript hymn-book of the year 1759 was the fulfilment of this
promise.

8 This citation mentions only the Caspar Weiss collection ; but investiga-
tion has shown that the miscellaneous portion of George Weiss's addition is
also incorporated in this volume. In fact, a few of the Psalm-lieder and also
a number of the Meditationes found their way into this volume.

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 93

schen, class er sich darinnen iibe, Gotte lerne erkennen, die Wercke
Gottes betrachte, und eine Lehre habe sich in gottseligem, Christ-
licliem Wandel zu iiben. * * * Und weilen aber viele Christ-
liche Autores, solclie Haubt-Pvincte oder Artickel der Christlichen
Lehre meditirt und betrachtet, und in Reimen und geistliche Lieder
verabfasset haben ; und weilen die Christlichen Autores, so diese
geistliche Lieder gedichtet, solche Lehre und Materien bedacht und
Gesangs-Weise betrachtet haben : so hat man fur gutt und niitz

geachtet audi sonderlich wegen der Jugend (weil durch Singen

eine Sache audi leichter mag ins Gemiith und Gedachtniss bracht
werden) dass solche Haubt-Articul oder die Christliche, apostolische
Lehre mochte bekant, gefasset und geiibet werden, damit es ihr ein

soldier Dienst und Handleitung mdchte seyn solche Lieder, oder

dieses Gesang-Buch nach den Haubt-Artickeln der Christlichen
Lehre zu ordnen und einzutheilen : dass also audi die Lieder, nach
deren Unterscheidung, leichter und besser mogen begriffen und
verstanden werden. Und also sind die Artickel, so viel moglich,
in Ordnung auf einander gesetzt: Und weil denn einige mehr oder
weniger Lieder haben, so sind solche, so da viel Lieder haben und
reich von Inhalt der Christlichen Lehre sind, wiederum in unter-
schiedene Abtheilungen unterschieden : Wie denn audi eines jeden
Artickels fiirnehmster Inhalt zusammen in Kurtze in ein Sum-
marium verf asset und bey dess selben An fang zu finden ist."

We give below the complete "Verzeichniss der Artickel"
or table of contents of the manuscript hymn-book of 1758, first
because this volume seems to have been compiled solely for the
sake of the classification already discussed, and second, to antici-
pate the fact of the similarity in arrangement between this volume
and the printed hymn-book :9

I. VON GOTT, ODER VON DER HEILIGEN DREYFALTIGKEIT.

II. Von Jesu Christo, seiner Person und Ammte; folget
also:

9 A comparison has shown that most of the "articles" of this table were
taken from the Moravian hymn-book, edition of 1566. A few appear to have
been original with the author of the manuscript volume in question. The
order of the various rubrics has, however, been changed.

94 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

1 Menschwerdung.

Geburt.

Beschneidung.

Offenbarung den Weisen.

Opferung im Tempel.

Flucht in Egipten.
Ijugend und Gewachse nach der Menscheit.
Christi \ ^e^en unc* Wandel, Tauffe, Anfechtungen, Predigten,
\Wunderwercken, und Beruff der Junger.

Einzug gen Jerusalem.

Leiden, Tod und Begrabniss.

Auferstehung.

Himmelfahrt.

Mittler-Ammte.
, Erkantniss.

III. Vom Heiligen Geiste.

IV. Von der Schopffung.

V. Von den Engeln.

VI. Vom Fall des Menschen.

VII. Von den Zehn Gebotten.

VIII. Von der Rechtfertigung.

IX. Von dem Glauben.

X. Von der Busse.
XL Vom Gebet.

XII. Vom Worte Gottes.

XIII. Von Aposteln und Kirchen-Dienern.

XIV. Von der Christlichen Kirchen.

XV. Von der Tauffe.

XVI. Vom Abendmal.

XVII. Von der Dancksagung.

XVIII. Von den Heiligen.

XIX. Vom Christlichen Leben.

XX. Vom Creutz der Kirchen.

XXI. Von der Kirchen Verwuestung.

XXII. Vom Gebett fuer die Kirche.

XXIII. Von Verneuerung der Kirchen.

XXIV. Von der Oberkeit.

THE HOFFMANNS AND HANS CHRISTOPH HUEBNER 95

XXV. Vom Ehestand und der Kinder-Zucht.

XXVI. Vom Tod und Sterben.

XXVII. Vom Begraebniss.

XXVIII. Von der Auferstehung und Juengsten Ge-

richt.

XXIX. Vom Ewigen Leben.

XXX. Von der Ewigen Pein.

CHAPTER VIII.
Christopher Schultz and the Printed Hymn-Book.

We have seen that the Schwenkf elders were early aware of
the importance attaching to the problem of a hymn-book ; and that
their activity in the collecting of hymns dates from the sixteenth
century. We have traced from its inception to its final form, the
manuscript hymn collection which is entitled to the distinction of
having been the first Schwenkfelder hymnary used in America.
We have also observed in connection with our narrative of the
manuscript collection, the presence of a well-defined continuity
of development. In the present chapter, we shall endeavor to
demonstrate that this continuity of development extended also
into the first printed hymn collection issued in America — both
the plan and the content of the printed hymnal exemplifying this
progression. In a word, we are here concerned with the matter
of the extent to which the Neu-Eingerichtetes Gesang-Buch
(1762) is indebted to the manuscript volumes of 1758 and 1760,
in point of arrangement, and to the second hymn collection as a
whole, in point of content. At the close of the chapter, we print
specimens of the Schwenkf elder hymns written in America.

The first hymn-book of the Schwenkfelders printed in
America, with the title Neu-Eingerichtetes Gesang-Buch, left the
press of Christoph Saur at the close of the year 1762. It was a
much needed book. The Schwenkfelders had brought with them
to America numerous copies of the Moravian hymn-book, but
for years this had been used but little. Of their manuscript
hymn collection, there were seemingly but three complete copies
existing. Hence there was no want of occasion for the publish-
ing of a hymn-book.

The documentary information we possess, relative to the
issuing of the Schwenkfelder hymn-book of 1762, is compara-
tively scanty. However, from certain fragmentary records and
from extant correspondence, we learn that the project had for
some years been under consideration ; that previous to the prepara-

(96)

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK 97

tion of the copy, provision was made to meet the expense of
issuing; and that the publication was in charge of a representa-
tive committee, Rev. Christopher Schultz having been commis-
sioned with the function of editor. The following brief chronicle
relating to the publication of said hymn-book, is taken from the
so-called Historische Anmerkungen, a Schwenkfelder chronicle
for the years 1750-1789, written — up to 1775 — by Rev. Chris-
topher Schultz.1

1,1 759 * * * Nachdem denn audi von geraumer Zeit her
manchmal davon geredet worden, wenn man ein Gesang-Buch vor
unsz drukken lisse, das mochte ein niitzliches Werk seyn, weil di
Lider so wir brauchen, auserdem was etwan zusammen geschriben
wird, in Zerstreuung ligen ; audi di alten gedrukkten piccardischen
Gesang-Biicher veralten und das Schreiben ein sehr beschwerliches
und kostbahres Werk ist; so ist solches anjetzo wider aufs Tapet
kommen, und endlich so fern gedihen, dasz von etlichen ein Plan ei-
nes Formuls desselbigen, bearbeitet und vorgezeiget worden. Worzu
sich denn so vile Subscribers gefunden, dasz beschlossen worden da-
mit ans Licht zutretten und es drukken zulassen.

"1760. Es hat aber unglaublich vil Miihe und Confcrirens ge-
kostet dasz man zu einem richtigen Formular gekommen ist, welches
man in den Drukk geben wolte ; also hat man sich dises und
folgendes Jahr oft'te damit bemiihet, bisz es nach Beliben zu Stande
gebracht worden.

"1 76 1. Der Drukker ist gar gemach damit zu Werke gegan-
gen, weil er viel anders daneben gedrukkt; Es ist im Mittel des
1 76 1. Jahres damit angefangen und erst zu Ausgang des 1762. Jah-
res beschlossen worden."

From the monograph by the Rev. J. H. Dubbs, D. D., LL.
D., cited in our first chapter, we quote the following, relative to
this hymn-book: "It is entitled Neu eingerichtetes Gesangbuch,
in sich halt end eine Sammlung {mchrcntheils alter) schoener
lehr-reicher und erbaulicher Lieder. We are careful to repeat
the greater part of the title because there is no intimation

*Cf. M. D. Learned: Historische Anmerkungen, A Schwenkfelder
Chronicle. In Americana Germanica, Vol. II, No. 1.

98 schwenkfelder hymnology

anywhere of the religious body for which the book was in-
tended.2 It is a handsome duodecimo containing 917 hymns,
which, according to the preface, are mostly derived from the
hymn-books of the "Bohemian Brethren", though there is an
appendix containing some of the best hymns of the Lutheran
and Reformed churches. The preface is scholarly and the ar-
rangement admirable. There is a three-fold index, of melodies,
festivals and first lines. The index of hymns arranged according
to the festivals not only indicates hymns proper to be sung on
every Lord's Day in the year, but also for many saints' days
which are not ordinarily observed by Protestants, and for six
annual days of fasting and prayer. * * * Notwithstanding
certain imperfections, the Schwenkfelder hymn-book is, in our
opinion, a publication of a very superior order, and a credit to
the community that produced it."

The scholarliness of the preface of said hymn-book is owed
to Rev. Christopher Schultz, while the orderliness of its arrange-
ment is in some measure to be placed to his credit. In a sketch
of his life and literary activity ("Lebenslauf von Vater Christoph
Schultz, Sr.") 3 written by David" Schultz, his son, are included
these few words relative to the authorship of the preface of this
hymn-book : "Die Vorrede im alten Gesang-Buch, ist audi meh-
rentheils sein Werck". We print below a letter of Christopher
Schultz, which not only attests the fact that he, as editor, drafted
the preface of the hymn-book in question, but which betrays also
the editor's concern that the hymn-book should set a high stan-
dard as to*both orderliness and Christian doctrine, and should
be serviceable as a text-book of uncolored Christian faith. The
letter follows in full: 4

2 This is an oversight. The Schwenkfelders were early called "Bekenner
der Glorien Christi," "Confessors of the Glory of Christ." This name the
full title of the hymn-book includes.

8 A copy of this sketch of "Vater" Schultz was furnished me by H. W.
Kriebel.

* The original is in the possession of Rev. E. E. S. Johnson.

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK 99

"An die Beforderer misers Gesang-Buchs: G
Werthe Freunde! Beyligend stellt sich euch ein Vorschlag
fiir zu einer Vorrede des Gesang-Buchs woran wir schon ein Weil
gearbeitet: Ieh versehe mich ohngezweiffelt dasz ein Jeder di Wich-
tigkeit der Yorrede erkennen und bedenken wird, und solches zu
erinnern niclit nothig babe. Nur ist mein Begehren um solcher
Wichtigkeit vvillen : Es wolle ein Jeder seinen treuen Fleisz daran
wenden und disen Vorschlag welchen ob zwar gut gemeynet, Ich
(meiner mir wol bewusten Unschiklichkeit und Wenigkeit nach)
nicht fiir genugsam ausgeben kan, wol besehen und ermessen ; zu
samt den Umstanden worein wir unser Gesang-Buch stellen wenn
wir damit ins Publicum tretten, was zu dessen niitzlichen Gebrauch
und Yerhinderung des Miszbrauchs und allerley Unrichtigkeit moch-
te dinlich seyn an disem Ort beyzubringen beydes fiir di Unsrigen
als auch di Auswartigen, auf welche letztere wir um des freyen
Zeugnisses der Warheit willen, welches wir durch keine Ichheit
einschlissen ddrflften, nicht weniger zu sehen haben. Und was ihr
also denn befinden mochtet dasz der Sache zu wenig oder zu vil ge-
than sey oder hi und da mehr oder besser konne illustriret werden
(wi ich denn auch achte dasz mit Schrifft Zeugnissen geschehen
konte wo es anders euch gefallt) das wolle denn auch ein Jeder
verzeichnen: Damit wir etwa ein mahl wenns euch gefallt uns
samtlich daruber berathen mochten. Und ob ich wol auf Begehren
disen Vorschlag verabfasset, und nach eigenem Bedenken einen Lauff
des Vortrags erwahlet, so konte es doch seyn dasz Ihr andern oder
Einiger von Euch einen andern YYeg der Vorstellung belibete, wel-
ches denn auch fiiglich zu bedenken ware, weil man ja nicht ermati-
geln solte weil es nun Zeit ist das schikklichste anzubringen.

Und sollen Gotte bitten dasz er unsz bey diser raren Gelegen-
lieit, Gnade, Weiszheit und Verstand verleyen wolle ihm gefallig zu
handeln. Wil also alles in weiter Bedenken empfohlen haben.

d. 2ten May 1761. C. S."

We shall now take up the question of the relation of the
classification of the printed hymn-book, to that of the manuscript
volumes of 1758 and 1760. In this, as in the choice of the

5 Addressed, in all probability, to the committee in charge of the publica-
tion of the hymn-book.

A ►*V d\ t*J /\ *"V

IOO SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

hymns, Christopher Schultz drew freely from the Schwenk-
felder manuscript hymn collection and its predecessor, the hymn
book of the Moravians. In our preceding chapter we gave the
complete "Verzeichniss der Artickel" of the manuscript volume
of 1758. For the purposes of a comparison in point of rubric,
we give in this connection the summary of contents ("Verzeich-
nis und Ordnung") of the Saur edition. Following the table
here given, is a statement of the correspondences between the
two tables. The articles marked thus (*) constitute the rubrics
added by Schultz.

VERZEICHNIS und ORDNUNG.
der TITEL derer MATERIEN davon DIE LIEDER handeln.

I. Theil.

Vom

GOTTLICHEN WESEN.

VON

GOTT

und Seinem Wesen.

II.

Empfaengnis und Menschwerdung

III.

Geburt.

IV.

Beschneidung und Namen.

Offenbarung.

VI.

Opfferung.

VII.

Flucht.

VIII.

Jugend.

Von Christi

IX.

Leben und Wandel.

ElNZUG.

Leiden und Tod.

XII.

Auferstehung.

XIII.

Himmelfahrt.

XIV.

Mitler-Amte.

XV.

Erkantnis.

XVI. Vom Heiligen Geiste.

II. Tiieil.
VON der OECONOMIE und REGIERUNG GOTTES.
I. Von der Schopffung.
II. Von den Engeln.

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK IOI

III. Vom Fall des Menschen.

IV. Von den Heiligen Zehn Gebotten.
V. Vom Glauben.

VI. Von der Busse.
VII. Vom Gebaet.
VIII. Vom Verlangen nach Gott.*
IX. Von der Liebe zu Gott.*
X. Von der Rechtfertigung.
XI. Lobgesaenge.*
XII. Vom Christlichen Wandel.

XIII. Von der Nachfolge Jesu.*

XIV. Von Verleugnung Sein Selbst und der Welt.*
XV. Vom Christlichen Streit.*

XVI. Vom Vertrauen auf Gott.*
XVII. Von Guten Wercken.*
XVIII. Von Anfechtung Noth und Truebsal.*
XIX. Trost-Lieder.*
XX. Von der Hoffnung der Seligkeit.*
XXI. Vom Worte Gottes.
XXII. Von den Aposteln und Kirchen-Dienern.

XXIII. Von der Kirciie.

XXIV. Von den Einsetzungen Christi.

i. Von der Heiligen Tauffe.
2. Vom Heiligen Abendmahl.
XXV. Von den Heiligen.
XXVI. Vom Creutz der Kirciien.
XXVII. Von der Kirchen-Verwuestung.
XXVIII. Gebaet fuer die Kirche.
XXIX. Von der Oberkeit.
XXX. Vom Ehstand und Kinder-Zucht.
XXXI. Vom Tod und Sterben.
XXXII. Beym Begraebnis.

XXXIII. Vom Juengsten Tage.

XXXIV. Von der Ewigen Pein.
XXXV. Vom Ewigen Leben.

It will be observed that the "Artickel" or "Titel" com-
posing part I. of the Saur edition are essentially a taking-over of

102 SCHWENKFELDER HYMN0L0GY

the first three "Artickel" of the volume of 1758 — the sub-
divisions of II. having become co-ordinate articles in the printed
hymn-book. At the beginning of part II. are placed in order,
articles IV. to XL inclusive of the "Verzeichniss" of 1758 —
excepting VIII. which is given a new position. The remaining
19 articles of the volume of 1758 correspond in order to articles .
XXL— XXXV. inclusive of part II. of the Schultz hymn-
book, with but two differences: XVII. and XXIII. not having
been included among the rubrics of the Saur edition, and XIX.
"Vom Christlichen Leben," having become "Vom Christlichen
Wandd" (II. Theil, XII.). Articles VIII. and IX., XL, and
XIII.-XX. ( II. Theil ) are the rubrics added by Schultz.

There is also a striking correspondence between the printed
hymn-book and the volumes of 175S and 1760 — in the ar-
ticles common to both — with respect to the hymns classified
under a given rubric, as well as to the order in which they are
arranged. Former Governor Pennypacker was impressed with
this correspondence between the manuscript collection and the
Saur edition, and without hesitation, noted on a fly-leaf of the
volume of 1760 the following, relative to this matter: "This
collection, which up to that time had remained in manuscript,
formed the basis of the hymn-book printed by Saur in 1762."
We have attempted below to illustrate the correspondence, by
tabulating the hymns comprising a characteristic "Artickel" of
the manuscript collection with those of the corresponding rubric
in the Saur edition. The hymns marked thus (*) are found in
both volumes, but differ as to position in the group. A blank line
indicates the absence of a corresponding hymn. The parenthesis
following each line, indicates the number of strophes.

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK

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104 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Still another peculiarity of the manuscript collection is re-
flected in the Saur edition. The rubrics comprising a large num-
ber of hymns are further divided into "Abtheilungen" so-called.
Furthermore, in both the manuscript collection and the printed
volume, each "Artickel" and "Abtheilung" is prefaced with a
brief summary of the doctrine which the hymns set forth. The
language of these prefatory remarks is, moreover, frequently
identical. Schultz's apology for introducing this innovation into
a printed hymn-book, follows : 7

"Allhier ist dieses sonderlich zu melden, dasz eben auch urn
bessern Begriffs und Verstandlichkeit willen und der Einfalt zu
dienen, noch nebst dem Tittel einer jeden Rubrique (etliche wenige
ausgenommen) ein kurtzes Summarium enthalten ist, welches an-
zeiget, worauf eigentlich die Lieder in ihrem Vortrag sehen ; da man
denn auch zugleich das Gemercke mit dahin gehabt, dasz derselben
Ordnung gemass, wie solches Summarium redet, und ein Stiicke des
Inhalts nach dem andern setzet, also auch die Lieder einander nach
zu stehen kommen sind, damit ein aufmercksames fleissiges Ge-
miith, desto eher an die Materie kommen konne, wovon es belieben
mochte haben, ein Lied zu singen. * * * Wenn denn aber,
derer Summarien bey manchen Rubriquen was viel haben werden
wollen, so hat man sie nach fiiglichen Unterschieden abgetheilet,
und solche Abtheilungen aus eiander gesetzet, dass die Lieder derer
unterschiedlichen Abtheilungen nicht verwechselt, sondem eine jede
Abtheilung ihre Lieder so gleich unter sich stehen habe. Von wel-
cher, obwohl in Gesangbuchem biszher ungewohnlichen Arbeit, man

hoffet, dasz Niemand einigen Schaden hingegen aber manches

einen guten Nutzen und Dienst haben wird."

In concluding our discussion of the features of the Saur
edition traceable to the manuscript hymn-book, we wish to make
a few additional observations. The greater number of the hymns
of the printed hymn-book are contained in the manuscript col-
lection also. However, many of these hymns are found in the
Moravian hymn-book as well, and it is sometimes impossible to

'From the preface of the Saur edition, p. xix.f.

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Specimen Page of Hymn-Book by Chkistoph Hoffmann.
(Showing a Hymn by Balthaser Hoffmann.)

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK 105

determine whether a given hymn has been taken from the manu-
script collection or from its original source, the Moravian hymn-
book; since the three different texts exhibit no important variants.
Nevertheless, the frequent appearance in the Saur edition of
variant readings introduced by Caspar Weiss and George Weiss,
seems to indicate that with respect to even these hymns, the
manuscript collection served Schultz as both a standard and a
source.

The hymns comprising the printed hymn-book number 917.
Of these 591 were contained in the parent collection made by
Caspar Weiss (1709). Of the remaining 326, 165 were in-
cluded in the addition made to the collection of 1709 by George
Weiss. There were therefore 161 hymns incorporated into the
Saur edition which were not contained in the manuscript hymn
collection in either its first or its second form, and which must
therefore have been obtained from other sources.

We list here the hymn writers of the Schwenkf elders in
America. Weiss, Hoffmann and Wagner wrote hymns abroad
as well as in this country.

George Weiss, 1687- 1740.

Balthaser Hoffmann, 1687- 1775.

David Seibt, 1691-1765.

Caspar Kribel, (?)-i77i.
Abraham Wagner,8 ca. 171 5-1763

Christoph Schultz, 1718-1789.

Christoph Kribel,0 1720-1800.

Rev. George Meschter, M. D. 1840.

The list of hymn writers of the Saur edition includes the
following Schwenkfelders. We indicate also the number of
hymns of each admitted to the collection : Adam Reissner 5,
Valentin Triller 15, Bernhard Herxheimer 1. Daniel Sudermann
47, George Frell 20, George Heydrich 1, Martin John 30, George

"Physician. Resided on the farm now (1009) the home of Elwood W.
Anders. Is buried in the Methatchen cemetery, near Fairview Village, Pa.
' See The Schwenkfeldian, May 1908.

106 SCHVVENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Weiss 26, Balthaser Hoffmann 38, David Seibt 1 , Caspar Kribcl
7, Abraham Wagner 34, Christoph Schultz 7, Christoph Kribel
10.

Numerous copies of the Schwenkf elder hymn-book of 1762
contain a manuscript appendix following the indexes. It is in
two parts. The first part consists of three biographical lists. Of
these, the first is a transcription of the biographical sketches con-
tained in the hymn-book of the Bohemian Brethren published
1639 — the list to which we have already called attention, in
our description of said hymn-book. The second is a similar
biographical list of the Schwenkfelder hymn writers, and the third
an account of the Lutheran and Reformed hymn writers, repre-
sented in the new hymn-book. The second part of this manuscript
appendix is a complete alphabetical list of the authors of the
printed hymn-book. In most of the copies which contain this
appendix, the initials of the authors are given in manuscript above
the hymns. These manuscript addenda are the work of Rev.
Christopher Hoffmann, the bookbinder of the Schwenkfelders,
and are usually in his handwriting.

The following three hymns are given as specimens of the
Schwenkfelder hymns written in America. The author of the
first hymn was Abraham Wagner. The author of the second
was Rev. Balthaser Hoffmann. The last hymn is by Rev. George
K. Meschter, M. D. It was written, July 1904, on the occasion
of the departure of Miss Flora Krauss Heebner for her mission-
ary work in Shansi, China.

I. m,. N„ W<*>

Ach, allerhoechstes Guth!
O liebens-wuerdigs Wesen ;
Gott Vater, Sohn und Geist,
In welchem wir genesen ;

YYer wolt' nicht lieben Dich,
Und loben allezeit?

Du bist das evvig Heil,

Und all Yollkommenheit.

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK IO/

Gott Yater! gross von Macht,
Von Liebe und Erbarmen:
Gabst deinen Sohn in Tod,
Aus liebe zu uns Armen.
Du Schoepffer aller Ding!
Wir ruehmen deine Werck :
Dein Weiszheit, Heiligkeit,
Dein Gnade, Krafft und Staerck.

Gott Sohn, Herr Jesu Christ !
Aus Liebe Mensch gebohren ;
Hast uns aus Lieb erloest,
Da wir waren verlohren.
Lob sey Dir, Gottes-Lamm !
Unser Haupt, Hirt und Weid'!
Du bist dein'm Yater gleich.
In Macht und Herrlichkeit.

Gott heil'ger Geist ! Ein Gott
Mit Vater und dem Sonne,
Dir sey audi Lob und Preisz,
Von uns in gleichem Thone :
Der Du uns heilig machst,
LTnd unser Troester heiss'st,
Und uns den schmalen Weg.
Zum Leben fuehr'st und weisst.

O unbegreiflichs Gut !
O Du Drey-einigs Wesen !
Ohn Anfang und ohn End :
Hilff uns, dasz wir genesen ;
Mach uns zu deinem Lob,
Stets wuerdig und bereit!
Dir sey Lob, Preisz, und Ehr,
In Zeit und Ewigkeit.

108 SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

K,, II. ^t; Ai-u in Ge

Gebenedeyt sey allezeit,
Gelobet unci geehret,
Die gantze heilige Dreyheit,
Die, wie die Schrifft uns lehret,
Eins Wesens ist, Eine Gottheit,
Und unzertheilte Einigkeit,
In gleicher Macht und Ehren.

Der Vater ist ein wahrer Gott,

Im Wesen zu bekennen.

Der Sohn Den Er gebohren hat,

Ist wahrer Gott zu nennen.

Desgleichen der Heilige Geist,

Ein wahrer Gott audi ist und heist :

Drey Namen nur Ein Wesen.

Also wird von dem Vater, Gott,
Gantz wohl und recht bekennet,
Dasz Er sey der gebohren hat :
Audi wird der Sohn genennet,
Ein Gott der da gebohren ist,
Im An fang vor ewiger Frist,
Gleicher Natur und Wesens.

Vater und Sohn in Einigkeit

Sind gleicher Gott im Wesen :

Der Heil'g Geist audi in diesen Beyd,

Gleicher Gott ist gewesen :

So bleibets audi zu ew'ger Frist:

Doch der wahr' Gott nur Einer ist,

Ein Gott und nicht drey Goetter.

Eja, so lasst uns nun zugleich,
Dem Herren audi lobsingen,
Der sein Thron hat im Himmclreich ;
Lob und Danck vor Ihn bringen.
Lasst uns Ihm froelich singen gern,
Als unsren Gott und Herrn Ihn ehr'n,
Der hoch im Himmel wohnet.

THE PRINTED HYMN-BOOK

O Du wahr goettliche Dreyheit,
Die anzubeten wuerdig!

0 du heilige Einigkeit,
Die zu verehren billig,

Durch Dich, du wahre Ewigkeit!
Sind wir geschaffen in der Zeit,
Als ein Werck deiner Haende.

Durch Dich sind wir erloeset auch,
Du hoechste Lieb und Guete,
Aus allem Leyd und Ungemach,
Wollest dein Volck behueten ;
Beschuetze es und mach es heil,
Richts auf, zu kommen zum Erbtheil,
Und mach es rein von Suenden.

Herr Gott ! Der Du allmaechtig bist,
Dich wir ehrn und anbeten.
Wir singen Dir zu dieser Frist,
Mit Dancken vor Dich tretten:
Dir sey Gloria, Lob und Ehr,
Von jetzt fortan und immer mehr,
Bisz in Ewigkeit, Amen.

III.
My Saviour, Lord of all,

1 heard Thy loving call,

Thy call for me.
What wilt Thou have me do,
All, all life's journey through?
I consecrate anew

My all to Thee.

"Go, take my bread and feed
My brethren— those in need—

Nor let one die.
I am with you alway,"
I heard Thy dear voice say.
"Thy word I shall obey",

Was my reply.

109

IIO SCHWENKFELDER HYMNOLOGY

Hence I shall leave those near,
My parents, brethren dear,

And sail away.
Some day I hope to meet,
Some day I hope to greet
All, at the Master's feet,

To stay for aye.

APPENDIX.
Bibliography.

Christian August Salig: I'ollstandigc Historic der Augspurg-

ischen Confession. Halle, 1735.
Johann Philip Fresenius : Bew'dhrte Nachrichten, Frankfurt,

1747-51-
Erldutcrung fur Hcrrn Caspar Schzvenkfcld und die Zugethancn

seiner Lehrc. Jauer, 1771. Second edition. Sumnytaun,

1830.

Hermann Adelbert Daniel: Thesaurus Hymnologicus. Leip-
zig. 1855-56.

A. F. H. Schneider: Zur Literatur der Schwenkfeldischen Lie-
dcrdichter bis Daniel Sudermann. Berlin, 1857.

Oswald Kadelbach : Ausfuehrlicke Geschichte Kaspar von
Schwenkfelds und der Schzvcnkfclder. Lauban, i860.

Hoffmann von Fallersleben : Geschichte des dcutschen Kirclten-
liedes. Hannover, 1861.

Philipp Wackernagel : Das Deutsche Kirchcnlicd von der altcs-
ten Zeit bis an Anfang des siebzehnten Jahrhundcrts. 5
vols. Leipzig, 1864-77.

Emil Koch : Geschichte des Kirchcnlicds und Kirchcngesangs.
Stuttgart, 1866-76.

Catherine Winkworth : Christian Singers of Germany. London,
1869.

Richard Bingham : Hymnologia Christiana Latina. London,
1871.

F. A. March: Latin Hymns, with English Notes. New York,
1875 and 1883.

A. F. W. Fischer: Kirchenlieder-Lexicon. Gotha, 1878.

C. Heydrick: The Sclnvcnkf elders: An Historical Sketch. In
Genealogical Record of the Descendants of the Schzvenk-
feld crs. Manayunk, 1879.

J. H. Dubbs : £<7>7v German Hymnology of Pennsylvania. In
Reformed Quarterly Reviezv (1882).

C. R. Hildeburn: A Century of Printing. The Issues of the
Press in Pennsylvania, 1685-1784. Philadelphia, 1885-86.

T- E. Prescott : Christian Hymns and Hymn Writers. Cam-
bridge, 1886.

VV. Garrett Horder: The Hymn Lover. London, 1889.

(in)

112 BIBLIOGRAPHY

S. W. Duffield : The Latin Hymn -writers and Their Hymns.
Edited and completed by Prof. R. E. Thompson, D. D.
New York, 1889.

John Julian : A Dictionary of Hymnohgy. New York, 1892.

O. Seidensticker: First Century of German Printing in Amer-
ica. Philadelphia, 1893.

J. Tavlor Hamilton: Some Moravian Hymn Writers. (Mora-
zian Visitor, Vol. 3, No. 7.) Easton, 1896.

S. W. Pennypacker: The Settlement of Gcrmantown. Phila-
delphia, 1899.

M. D. Learned: Historische Anmerkungen. In Americana
Germanica. Vol. II., No. 1.

J. Taylor Hamilton: History of the Moravian Church. Bethle-
hem, 1900.

H. W. Kriebel : The Sclnvcnkf elders in Pennsylvania. Lancas-
ter, 1904.

Corpus Schwenckfeldianorum. Volume I. Leipzig, 1907.

Hallcsche Nachrichten. (1750 et seq.)

Bliitter fur Hymnologie.

Americana Germanica

NEW SERIES
MONOGRAPHS DEVOTED TO THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE

Literary, LinguistiG and Other Cultural Relations of
Germany and America

EDITOR

MARION DEXTER LEARNED

University of Pennsylvania

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

H. C. G. Brandt Julius Goebel

W. H. Carpenter J. T. Hatfield

W. H. Carruth W. T. Hewett

Hermann Collitz A. R. Hohlfeld

Starr W. Cutting Hugo K. Schilling

Daniel K. Dodge H. Schmidt-Wartenberg

A. B. Faust Hermann Schoenfeld

Kuno Francke Calvin Thomas

Adolph Gerber H. S. White
Henry Wood

PHILADELPHIA

AMERICANA GERMANICA PRESS

Berlin New York Leipzig

MAYER & MCLLER CARL A. STERN F. A. BROCKHAUS

London Paris

KEGAN, PAUL, TRENCH, TROBNER & CO., Ltd. H. Le SOUDIER

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